Latest news with #Hokkien
The Star
3 days ago
- General
- The Star
Community leaders pay final respects to adoptive father of well-known social activist Kent Tan
A SON'S GOODBYE: Kent Tan Chow Teng (second from left with while T'Shirt) together his mother (with walking beside) at the late Bobby Tan Say Kuan's wake Jelutong Memorial Park in Batu Berendam, accompanied by state and NGO leaders. MELAKA: Community leaders and members gathered to pay their final respects to Bobby Tan Say Kuan, the adoptive father of well-known social activist and lawyer Kent Tan Chow Teng. Say Kuan passed away peacefully on July 18 at a nursing home in Ayer Keroh here following complications from liver cirrhosis, a condition he was diagnosed with recently. He had celebrated his 67th birthday on July 5 at the home as Kent, as the only son, had no choice but to arrange for nursing care as his mother was preparing for back surgery. Among those who attended the wake on Sunday (July 20) were Melaka State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Kerk Chee Yee, Melaka entrepreneur development, cooperatives and consumer affairs committee chairman Allex Seah Shoo Chin and former state executive councillor and current chairman of International Labour Care Organisation (ILCO), Datuk M.S. Mahadevan. Overcome with emotion but determined to honour his father's wishes, Kent reminded mourners to find comfort in his father's legacy rather than sorrow in his passing. 'My dad didn't want anyone to be sad and that was his last wish,' he said when interviewed at the wake. Despite the grief, Kent said he was deeply touched by the turnout and the support shown by members of the public. 'He was a modest and kind-hearted man. "If reincarnation truly exists, I would choose to be born as his son in every lifetime,' he added. Kent's mother, Cindy Yeo Inn Inn, 63, shared that her son had insisted on a burial instead of cremation, wanting to uphold traditional filial piety and visit his father's grave each year during Qing Ming, the annual tomb-sweeping festival observed by the Chinese community. 'I told Kent that he may one day have to move to another state or go abroad and might not be able to visit regularly. 'But my son was firm and said he would always make time to remember and honour his father when we decided not to cremate my late husband, she said. Qing Ming holds deep cultural importance among the Chinese community, symbolising remembrance and respect for one's ancestors. Kent, 32, had previously shared with The Star on July 7 how he was adopted after being born to his biological parents in Johor on Aug 10, 1993. His adoptive parents had also been open about the adoption from the beginning, always reminding him that he came into their lives as a divine blessing. A familiar face in Melaka's cultural and social circles, Kent is fluent in seven languages and dialects, including Hainanese, Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Malay, English and Mandarin. He currently serves as chairman of the Heng Leng Lion and Dragon Dance Association and acts as legal adviser to more than 20 temples and social organisations in the state.
Borneo Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Kuching Food Festival 2025 returns with 324 stalls, rich cultural flavours and international flair
Liew (fourth left) presents a mock cheque to Wee (fifth left) while others look on. – Photo by Jude Lee KUCHING (July 18): The highly anticipated Kuching Food Festival 2025 is set to return from July 25 to August 17 at Dewan Masyarakat, Kuching South City Council (MBKS), featuring 324 stalls in a vibrant culinary showcase of Sarawak's diverse heritage and international flavours. Kuching South Mayor, Dato Wee Hong Seng, announced this during the handover ceremony of Magnum's RM45,000 sponsorship at the MBKS building here today. 'The contribution is not only financial, but also a gesture of trust, shared value, and commitment to the community that both MBKS and Magnum have held dearly,' said Wee, expressing his appreciation to Magnum for its continuous support spanning more than three decades. 'The long-lasting donation is the friendship that links together and builds up to make sure that as a whole, the community will benefit from this sponsorship,' he added. He further announced that this year's festival will feature 320 food stalls, three beer stalls, and one dedicated drink stall. Among the main highlights is the Chinese Home-Cooked Delicacy Corner, showcasing traditional dishes prepared by Chinese dialect groups in Sarawak – Hainan, Chawan, Teochew, Hokkien, Hing Hwa, Foochow, Kwong Wai Siew, and Hakka. They will each take turns to showcase and sell their traditional dishes over a dedicated three-day period, he noted. 'These are not the commercial recipes; these are dishes that represent the stories, the tradition, and family memories. 'So it is our way of preserving our culture through food and ensuring our younger generation understands and appreciates the richness of the root,' he pointed out. The festival will also feature a 'Gastronomy Pavilion', a special section reflecting Kuching's status as a Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy. Sister cities from Zhenjiang and Quanzhou, China, will also participate, sharing their culinary arts and culture with festival-goers. Additionally, there will be a 'Bumiputera Corner', a space where the Malay, Dayak, and other indigenous communities can proudly present their traditional delicacies. Wee encouraged the public from all over Sarawak to come and experience the delicious food, lively atmosphere, performances, and support local businesses. 'Do come, because your support matters. By visiting the stores, you are supporting all the small businesses, encouraging cultural continuity, and helping to keep this community spirit alive and thriving. 'The success of this festival is not just measured in numbers, but in all the smiles that we are creating in Kuching, the stories that we share and the memories that we create together,' he said. Also present was ENE Sdn Bhd vice president and East Malaysia regional head Liew Kee Chuan. Kuching Food Festival 2025 MBKS Wee Hong Seng
New Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Lim: Asean Fujian Convention to bolster regional ties, economic cooperation
KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean Fujian Convention 2025 is designed to strengthen regional networks and foster deeper economic collaboration, said Tan Sri Dr Lim Hock San, president of the Federation of Asean Fujian Associations. Lim warmly invites delegates to participate in this significant gathering, scheduled for August 28 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. He shared that the convention will unite participants from across Asean, China and beyond to advance regional cooperation, expand cross-border business opportunities and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Hokkien community. By attracting regional and international delegates, the convention is set to boost Malaysia's tourism and services sectors, promote local enterprises and reinforce the country's leadership as host of the Asean Summit 2025. Key highlights include the Asean Potential Development Forum, featuring opening remarks by Tan Sri Dr Johari Abdul, Speaker of the House, and closing remarks by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong. The convention will also see the opening of the Hokkien Museum at Wisma Fujian, Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, followed by a gala dinner and Asean Fujian Entrepreneurship Awards, recognising exceptional entrepreneurial contributions across Asean. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof will deliver the opening address and serve as guest of honour at the event on August 28. This significant event will bring together delegates and participants from across Asean, China, and other international regions, with the aim of making a substantial impact to enhance regional cooperation, promote cross-border business opportunities, and celebrate the shared cultural heritage of the Hokkien community. The convention is expected to deliver wide-ranging benefits for the community and the nation. It will play a pivotal role in revitalising Malaysia's tourism and service sectors by drawing international participation and attention. The convention will ignite investment flows and business partnerships within the Hokkien community across Asean, China, and beyond – putting local enterprises in the spotlight and connecting homegrown products to regional and global markets. At the same time, it will fuel Malaysia's economic momentum by reinforcing its role as Asean Summit Host 2025 and advancing national goals – deeper economic integration and stronger diplomatic and trade ties across Southeast Asia. Reports show Asean is actively pursuing intra-regional trade, investment harmonisation, and diversified markets to combat global economic uncertainty and tariffs. "This convention is more than a cultural celebration; it's a platform to build sustainable business ties, deepen regional bonds, and honour Hokkien entrepreneurial spirit," said Lim. "We look forward to welcoming all delegates and partners to an enlightening and impactful event."
The Star
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Asean Fujian Convention 2025: Strengthening regional networks and economic collaboration
Lim (centre) addressing the media during the press conference on the Asean Fujian Convention 2025. Tan Sri Ir Dr Lim Hock San, president of The Federation of Asean Fujian Associations, invites delegates to the Asean Fujian Convention 2025 on Aug 28 at the ShangriLa Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. This convention will unite participants from Asean, China and beyond to foster regional cooperation, promote crossborder business and celebrate Hokkien shared heritage. It aims to boost Malaysia's tourism and services industries, spotlight local businesses and enhance economic integration while reinforcing Malaysia's leadership as host of Asean Summit 2025. Highlights include: > Asean Potential Development Forum, with opening remarks by Tan Sri Dr Johari Abdul, Speaker of the House and closing by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong. > Opening of the Hokkien Museum at Wisma Fujian, Pudu, Kuala Lumpur. > Gala Dinner and Asean Fujian Entrepreneurship Awards, celebrating outstanding entrepreneurial achievements across Asean, with opening remarks by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. Fadillah will be the guest of honour for this event on Aug 28. This significant event will bring together delegates and participants from across Asean, China and other international regions, with the aim of making a substantial impact to enhance regional cooperation, promote cross-border business opportunities and celebrate the shared cultural heritage of the Hokkien community. The convention is expected to deliver wide-ranging benefits for the community and the nation. It will play a pivotal role in revitalising Malaysia's tourism and service sectors by drawing international participation and attention. The convention will ignite investment flows and business partnerships within the Hokkien community across Asean, China and beyond — putting local enterprises in the spotlight and connecting homegrown products to regional and global markets. At the same time, it will fuel Malaysia's economic momentum by reinforcing its role as Asean Summit Host 2025 and advancing national goals — deeper economic integration and stronger diplomatic and trade ties across South-East Asia. Reports show Asean is actively pursuing intra-regional trade, investment harmonisation and diversified markets to combat global economic uncertainty and tariffs. 'This convention is more than a cultural celebration; it's a platform to build sustainable business ties, deepen regional bonds and honour Hokkien entrepreneurial spirit,' said Lim. 'We look forward to welcoming all delegates and partners to an enlightening and impactful event.'
The Star
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
130 guests feast on 300kg of durian at CM's annual treat
Chow opening durian at the event. THEY are so good that once you start, it's almost impossible to stop, says Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow about the state's durian. He sampled many of the types laid out by a Balik Pulau vendor, including the much-heralded Black Thorn and crowd-pleasers like Red Prawn, Green Skin and Capri at a durian party with the media in George Town. 'If I have to name my favourite, it would be Red Prawn, which locals call Ang Heh in Hokkien,' Chow said at the event held at Penang Youth Centre Hall in Acheh Street. 'It's sweet, creamy, has a soft texture and is affordable.' The state leader even helped open some of the fruits with the aid of a special tool and served some to the 130-strong crowd. The session also included members of the Village Community Management Council, and within an hour, they devoured an estimated 300kg of durian. Some of the durian-savvy guests were able to handpick the individual ones they wanted from crates based on size, shape and layout of thorns. Others accepted whatever was being cracked open. Chow made the rounds to ensure his guests were satisfied and posed for selfies. 'My office has been hosting these durian parties for many years – starting from when I was Tanjong MP,' he said. Also present were Chow's political secretary Lau Keng Ee and Batu Kawan parliamentary service centre director Ewe Chee Way. – By JEREMY TAN
