Penang Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow attended the very first press conference for the Miao Hui celebrations 2024 recently.
Also present was Dato Leong Keng Fei, Chairman Of Penang Chinese Clan Council, Ho Swee Choon, Deputy Chairman Of Penang Chinese Clan Council, Ms. Kwoh Shoo Chen & Choo Boon Chiang, Advisor Of Penang Cultural Inheritors Society among others.
The Miao Hui celebration in Penang has a history of 25 years after it was first started in 1999.
This annual event is now an important cultural brand in Penang for the promotion of traditional culture practices and history for the younger generation as part of their inheritance and learning.
“The Penang state government supports the annual Miao Hui celebration which has also become a tourist attraction.
“I was made to understand that preparations are already underway to ensure a smooth and successful celebration.
“This means that once they have completed the Miao Hui event for the current year, they will immediately start planning and work on the Miao Hui event of the following year. This has continued for the past 25 years and the Penang state government wish to commend on this spirit of the volunteers,” said Chow in his address.
He also added that the 2024 Miao Hui will be hosted by the Penang Chinese Clan Council and planned and coordinated by the Inheritors will be held in the George Town Heritage Site on 18 February 2024 (which corresponds with the 9th day of Chinese New Year).
The Miao Hui event venue will cover the 12 streets in the George Town Heritage Area and includes the participation of more than 20 ancestral halls, guild halls and temples which are more than a century old.
“The theme for Miao Hui 2024 is “Our Story”. Apart from displaying the customs or cultural practices we inherited from our forefathers, the public will also get to appreciate the stories behind the occupations or industries pioneered by them at the time when they first arrived in Penang,” said Chow adding that he has been participating in the Miao Hui event for more than 20 years.