KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — This new year’s eve is celebrated like no other. No major events are held to bid farewell to 2020 and welcome 2021 due to the spread COVID-19.
Although all states, except for Sarawak did not hold official ceremonies to usher in 2021, the public still took the opportunity to visit several spots in full compliance with the stipulated standard operating procedures (SOP) to prevent COVID-19 including wearing face masks and avoiding mass gathering.
Sarawak became the only state in the country holding an official 2021 countdown event tonight, but despite its success to flatten the emergence of new COVID-19 cases, strict SOPs were observed throughout the ceremony.
The imposition of the SOPs had not dampened the colourful traditional shows of the various ethnic communities in the state, as well as the energetic contemporary performances of Sarawak’s very own talents that include Dayang Nurfaizah, Bob and Hafiz in the event held at the State’s Unity Stadium.
In TERENGGANU, the state government organised the Pentas Online: Ambang Tahun Baharu 2021 programme which was filled with virtual religious programmes.
Among the programmes held at the event which started at 9 pm were busking, religious talkshow, the recitation of the “selawat” (praising chant for the Prophet Muhammad) and “Asmaul Husna” (the 99 Names of Allah).
In KUALA LUMPUR, heavy traffic flow was reported around Bukit Bintang but it was a different atmosphere at Dataran Merdeka which has been closed to the public and guarded by the local authority.
In SELANGOR, a Bernama check found that visitors who thronged the i-City theme park, Section 7 in Shah Alam were seen wearing face masks and have their temperature checked before entering the area.
In MELAKA, traffic flow was slow in Bandar Hilir although no celebrations were held tonight.
In KELANTAN, a total of 250 participants took part in the nine-kilometre TM Fly Over New Year Night Ride in Tanah Merah organised by the Mahsari Cycling Club.
In PERLIS, although there was no new year countdown celebration, many visited the Kuala Perlis seaside to enjoy the night time view together with their families.
In SABAH, State Special Tasks Minister Datuk Mohd Ariffin Mohd Arif, together with the public, performed the Munajat Mahabbah and “doa selamat” at the State Mosque led by Grand Imam Suhaidi Kuanting and state mufti Datuk Bungsu Aziz Jaafar.
Bernama checks in several seaside areas including Taman Awam Teluk Likas and Taman Awam Tanjung Aru, revealed that only a small number visitors were spotted at the areas due to heavy rain and a ban on gathering in public places.
In NEGERI SEMBILAN, the new year was ushered differently when the Glory Beach Resort Turtle Hatchery Centre in Port Dickson released seven Agar turtles at Pantai Tanjung Gemok to mark the symbolic beginning of the new year.
In PENANG, people were still out in crowds celebrating the new year although there was no countdown celebration organised by the state government or the private sector. Many people thronged Gurney Drive, Gurney Paragon shopping centre, Karpal Singh Drive and Straits Quay.
In PERAK, checks at the Lost World Of Tambun theme park in Ipoh, which is a popular spot for New Year revellers, found that there was no new year countdown compared to the year before. There was however, a fireworks show before the theme park closed at 11 pm.
In PAHANG, rain did not stop people from gathering at Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan to usher in the new year together with their families and friends.
In KEDAH, people still visited several areas such as the Alor Setar Tower and Dataran Medan Bandar around Alor Setar to celebrate the new year although no celebrations were held.
In JOHOR, a fireworks show was held in the Mersing district, a gift by the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar to mark the close of a challenging year.
Many braved the heavy rain to wait for an hour and a half before the show began at around 11.20 pm.
In PUTRAJAYA, many people were seen cycling and jogging as well as mingling around with their families and friends, keeping to groups of no more than 10 each at Dataran Putrajaya.
— BERNAMA
