Sabahans all ready for CNY

The Yong family during their reunion dinner last year.

KOTA KINABALU: It’s that time of the year again most anticipated by members of the Yong family clan.

As with many families, they have relatives residing and working in other parts of Malaysia than just in Sabah but most, if not all, will make it a point to come back for Chinese New Year annually.

Jessie Yong said she will, without fail, except during the Covid-19 days, return with her husband Melvyn Yong to his family home in the interior Keningau district, along with their four children.

“Other relatives from Kota Kinabalu will join us and as usual, all our nephews and nieces working in Peninsular Malaysia will be back just in time for the reunion dinner on Friday (Feb 9),” she said, in an interview.

“Altogether, there will be somewhere between 30 and 35 family members all in one house so, you can imagine the excitement.

“The mood for reunion or going home for the Chinese New Year is always high as everyone is looking forward to gathering together, which only happens once a year.

“That’s the only time we can catch up and enjoy each other’s company, not to mention the delicious home-cooked dishes, made from recipes passed down by our older generation,” said Jessie who is the Befrienders Malaysia National Council president.

The excitement had already begun even before the reunion feast, she said, with everyone busy, some with house decorations and others whipping their magic in the kitchen.

In between, the friendly banter will be a time of reminiscing of old stories that are aplenty.

“But we all gotong-royong (work together) on the cooking on the eve of the lunar new year.

“My mother in-law and brother in-law will be cooking their own special dishes.

“Altogether, we will have 13 types of dishes. My in-laws’ clan, called the Sze Yi Clan, is from Kaiping, Guangzhou in China.

“The dishes have some similarities to Cantonese dishes, like steamed cold chicken, pork fried with yam, steamed fish, prawns and pork leg – these dishes are a must,” Jessie said.

While this may be the Year of the Dragon, she said, although it was auspicious it had no influence on whether their celebration was more spirited.

“For us, not really because it has been a tradition of the family that everyone must be home for reunion except those daughters who are married and will join their husband’s family reunion or children studying overseas but unable to return.

“But of course, there’s some excitement for those who are expecting dragon babies,” she said, with a smile.

Observations at bazaars or night markets around the Sabah capital found there was somewhat an upbeat mood among the people towards celebrating the festival this year.

Sally Ng, a vegetable seller at the Lido night market, said it could be because of the Year of the Dragon which was associated with greatness, good fortune and success.

“But personally, I think it’s more like that because the economy has been hit for the last four years because of the pandemic, this is like a ‘revenge mode’ for the people.

“Some tend to spend big while others more prudently but everyone seems to be hyped up for the celebrations this year, including myself,” she said.

Kota Kinabalu MP Datuk Chan Foong Hin said the good vibe is understandable as 2024 was the second year after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.

“Everyone is hoping to have a more prosperous year ahead (so) the spirit of celebration is high.

“It’s good to notice that during such festivals there are more buying and selling activities at markets. This will eventually be good for the economy,” said the Plantation and Commodity Deputy Minister.