Malaysian Christians celebrate Christmas on moderate scale

Christians in the country celebrated Christmas today on a moderate scale, some of them braving the rain and floods in several states. Rev Suresh Sundram, a priest from the City Revival Church, said the church in flood-hit Kota Baharu in Kelantan held prayers last night and this morning despite the inclement weather. "Although several places in Kelantan are flooded, Christians in the state living in the slightly affected urban areas attended church to celebrate Christmas," he told Bernama here. Suresh said it was not compulsory for Christians to attend church to celebrate Christmas as they could have prayers at home and hold 'open house' for relatives and friends as well as exchange gifts. The rain and floods have been a factor in Christians celebrating Christmas on a moderate scale this year, he said. In MELAKA, an overcast sky did not stand in the way of the Christmas celebration, especially by the Portuguese community at the Portuguese Settlement. Religious ceremonies were held from yesterday evening until early today, and the guests included foreign tourists. Domestic and foreign tourists thronged the tourist attractions in Bandar Hilir and Ayer Keroh today. In NEGERI SEMBILAN, Christians attended prayers at several churches in Seremban, namely the Visitation Church, Agape Community Church, Methodist Church and Wesley Church. One of them, Philip Aloysius, 67, said he would be going to his daughter's house in Skudai, Johor, to celebrate Christmas. In PENANG, fine weather after almost a week of rain enabled Christians to celebrate Christmas in a more comfortable atmosphere. State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the state-level Christmas open house was held on Dec 14 as most people would have various other activities to attend to towards the end of the year. In SARAWAK, Christmas was celebrated with joy with the holding of several 'open house' by state leaders, which were attended by people of all races and religions. Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem attended a 'Leader with the People' event that drew 2,000 people in conjunction with Christmas at the Lundu community hall in Lundu within his constituency of Tanjung Datu. Christmas this year was all the more meaningful for the Christians in the constituency as Adenan had taken over as the chief minister from Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud at the end of February. Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, who is the state assemblyman for Layar, held a Christmas open house at the Tan Sri Kalong Hall in Betong. In SABAH, Christmas was celebrated with joy. Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president and Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan held an open house at the Hongkod Koisaan hall of the Kadazandusun Murut Cultural Association (KDCA) in Penampang. More than 5,000 people attended the PBS open house. Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin; Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman; Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili and several other ministers attended the event. In PAHANG, Rev Wee Cho Heng of the Chinese Methodist Church in Kuantan said Christmas was celebrated with joy although fewer people attended church last night and this morning due to the adverse weather. "Christians can celebrate the occasion at home with various religious activities as several places are still recovering from the floods," he said. In TERENGGANU, the Elder of the Kuala Terengganu Baptist Church, Wrutheran Sinnadurai, said that besides celebrating Christmas, the church also carried out welfare work by giving aid to flood victims, regardless of race and religion. In JOHOR, Christmas was also celebrated in moderation, with Christians attending church in Johor Baharu this morning. Meanwhile, the people were seen taking advantage of the holiday today to visit the zoo and shopping malls. In KUALA LUMPUR, Christmas was celebrated with joy. Shopping malls were packed with migrant workers and foreign tourists. Many tourists took the opportunity to photograph themselves with replicas of Santa Claus and decorated Christmas trees at the malls. The Petronas Twin Towers also drew many tourists. Maly Lia, 47, a tourist from Mexico, said she was celebrating Christmas in Malaysia with her husband and three children. "I am happy to be celebrating Christmas here. It is joyful ... and (I have) unforgettable moments, with a colourful combination of decorations. I wish to come here again," she said. Filipino Augusto Uy, 28, who has been working in Malaysia for three years, said he was celebrating Christmas with friends. "I just came back from church. Now, I am planning to walk around the city with my friends," he said. Uy said he hoped that Malaysians would be bold in facing the floods ravaging several states.