The Kuala Lumpur Traveler

Personally, I don’t think Chinese New Year (CNY) in Malaysia is as exciting as it is celebrated elsewhere in the world. The reason? No firecrackers! Firecrackers used to be part and parcel of CNY celebration in Malaysia but many years back the government had banned firecrackers for security reasons. Too many casualties were caused by the firecrackers. The rest, as they say, is history. However, don’t be surprised if you come across someone selling firerackers and fireworks illegally in Malaysia.

CNY celebrations in Malaysia are now more of shopping mall affairs with lots of discounts offered, family re-unions, open house, Yee Sang and of course lion dance!

Despite the absence of firecrackers, CNY 2007 in Malaysia is not dull to say the least. Since the CNY 2007 was celebrated on weekend, all Malaysians get extended holidays until Tuesday 21st Feb 2007. Kuala Lumpur highways, roads and streets are deserted as Malaysians, Chinese or otherwise, head home to visit their families at their hometowns.

For those who were in Kuala Lumpur during the CNY 2007, there were a lot of CNY open houses organized by top Malaysian political leaders.

Here are some of the photos during the open house.

Chin Soon Sun had uploaded this video to YouTube showing the fireworks display in the eve of CNY 200 in his hometown Sibu, Sarawak.

Walski69 uploaded this video to YouTube to show that despite the firecrackers ban by the government, there are always those who are willing take the risk and obtained firecrackers ilegally just so that the spirit of the original CNY were not lost in time.

[tags]Chinese Neww Year 2007, firecrackers, fireworks[/tags]

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