JOHOR BAHARU: The Chingay Festival parade launched by Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar for the first time last night created history for the state with a record crowd of more than 300,000.
State Tourism, Trade and Consumerism exco chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong described the turnout of local and foreign visitors, particularly the youth, at the event held at the city centre as “extraordinary.”
“Throughout my involvement, the celebration this time is extraordinary; the youth made up the majority of the crowd; they also declared their allegiance to the Sultan of Johor,” he told reporters when met at the procession.
Also present were Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Johor Baharu Tiong-Hua Association president Datuk Seri Tey Kim Chai.
The parade held for the 144th time was participated by five temples with 19 carnival floats moving in a 10-kilometre procession beginning at Kuno Temple in Jalan Trus towards Xing Gong Temple in Jalan Ulu Air Molek and ending at Jalan Wook Ah Fook.
Fireworks and traditional dances by the three main races in the country, Malay, Chinese and Indian; a monkey mascot and dragon dances, added to the gaiety.
Sultan Ibrahim stayed for almost two hours before leaving around 10.30 pm.
Meanwhile, Tey said in his speech that the celebration would strengthen unity among the people.
“The celebration is magnificent and is a platform of unity not only for the people in the state but also in the country,” he said. -- Bernama