KUALA LUMPUR: Priscilla Gan, a secondary school teacher from Tangkak, Johor, and her family had anticipated that this year's Chinese New Year celebration would be a low-key affair following the implementation of the Movement Control Order.
Gan, 42, shares her home with her father, her three children and younger sister.
"Usually we would have our reunion dinner at a restaurant, joined by family members and relatives from near and far.
"This year, we'll be having our dinner at home for the first time in quite a while," she said.
She said as expected, her elder brother and his family, who live in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, as well as her youngest brother and his family who live in Johor Baru, cannot return home to celebrate the Lunar New Year together as a family.
"Despite the obvious disappointment, we all understand that the restrictions in place are for our own good.
"My kids, nephews and nieces are the ones who are affected the most as Chinese New Year is when they can meet up and play, wear new clothes and collect 'ang pow', which is what they're probably most disappointed about," she said.
"But as parents, we explained to them why we have to celebrate this year on our own with no visits to relatives' homes.
"I even used the phrase 'Kita Jaga Kita' to stress how important such rules are to keep us all safe and healthy."
She said despite the physical distance, her family kept in touch with each other via WhatsApp and Zoom video calls.
They also discussed what they would cook for the reunion dinner at their homes and what clothes they would be re-using for Chinese New Year since shopping was out of the question.
"We even discussed the possibility of e-wallets for virtual 'ang pow' for the children," she said.
She said her wish this Lunar New Year was for everyone to be safe.
"We shouldn't despair just because we cannot celebrate the way we usually do. Let's look forward to a brighter future when we can finally be rid of the coronavirus."
Alden Leong, 27, a digital entrepreneur from Cheras, said this Chinese New Year would see his family members in the Klang Valley celebrating the festival at their homes.
"This will be a Chinese New Year to remember for sure, with no reunion dinner, no visiting and no gatherings. I'm in Cheras, my twin brother is in Seksyen 17 (Petaling Jaya) and my younger sister is in Seksyen 14.
"My mother is in Jalan Klang Lama, while my father is in Semenyih," he said.
His family, he said, also kept in touch via video calls and would continue to do so on Chinese New Year.
"I hope that this Chinese New Year, we can all realise the gravity of the situation and adhere to the regulations in place.
"Hopefully, Malaysia will be able to celebrate Chinese New Year properly next year." - NST
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