SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR THE CHINESE NEW YEAR ONLINE RECEPTION ORGANISED BY THE CHINESE CONSULATE-GENERAL IN PENANG

To all online friends, a good day to all of you!

线上的朋友们，大家好！

Time truly flies and all of us are back here for the new year. It is a great honour for me to be invited to attend today’s reception by the Chinese Consulate-General in Penang. I offer my heartiest greetings and well-wishes to all the esteemed guests who are here today.

光阴似箭，转眼又是新的一年。很荣幸再次受到中国驻槟城总领事馆的邀请，出席今天的招待会。在此，我向各位出席本次招待会的嘉宾们献上我最亲切的问候和祝福。

Last year around the same date according to the Chinese lunar calendar, we were gathered together to welcome the arrival of the Chinese New Year. This, however, cannot be done this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While we can’t have an actual physical get-together, I am still happy that through the use of the online platform, members of the diplomatic corps can still have a virtual reunion for the new year.  

去年的春节，我们齐聚一堂，一起迎接农历新年的到来。遗憾的是，由于受到新冠肺炎疫情的影响，今年的我们无法再相聚，只能透过线上的方式，与众多外交使团齐聚，喜迎农历新春。

Despite such an arrangement, the bond of our friendship will not be affected in any way. After all, our two nations – Malaysia and China – have enjoyed a close and time-tested friendship and diplomatic ties since 1974 especially in the areas covering trade, cultural exchange, education and tourism.

虽然如此，这并不影响我们的交情。毕竟，马来西亚和中国自1974年建交以来，就建立了紧密的友好关系，特别是在经贸、文化、教育、旅游等各领域中。

For almost 50 years, the continuous expansion of our cooperation in all the mentioned fields is testimony of the strength and depth of this friendship.  

为显现我们的交情，两国上述领域中不间断扩展合作了将近50年。

In 2020, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic affected the lives of everyone all over the world. Before realising it, in Malaysia, we too have battled against Covid-19 for almost a year.

2020年，新冠肺炎疫情给全球各国人民的生活造成影响。不知不觉的，在对抗新冠肺炎疫情的这一条路上，我国已经走过了将近一年的时间。

To curb the spread of Covid-19 at the time, the Malaysian government imposed the Movement Control Order (MCO) across the country in March. Through this measure, we also hoped to prevent the collapse of our healthcare system.   

为了防止新冠肺炎疫情进一步扩散，继去年3月以后，我国再一次实施了行动管制令，希望透过这项举措，避免医疗体系崩溃。

However, we are deeply aware that it will not be easy to strike a balance between saving lives and saving livelihoods while effectively controlling the pandemic.

但我们都清楚知道，要在控制疫情的同时，达到生命和生计之间的平衡其实并不容易。

The Malaysian government imposed strict controls and health measures in order to flatten the pandemic curve but due to economic considerations, these measures often require compromise.

国家推动严厉的管制和卫生措施是为了达到稳定疫情曲线的目标，但这些举措经常因为经济上的考量而需要妥协。

Nevertheless, we are aware that in the absence of a healthy society, there can be no healthy economy.

但我们都知道，没有健康的社会，就不会有健康的经济。

For us to successfully break the Covid-19 infection chain, the country needs a high degree of cooperation from the people. Like what I have said before, the virus is actually at our doorsteps, and as long as we remain indoors, we won’t be infected.

要成功阻断新冠肺炎的感染链，国家需要人民的高度配合。正如我早前所说的，病毒其实就在我们家门前，只要没有出门，就不会感染。

This year’s Chinese New Year will be different. Perhaps some of you might not be able to have a proper reunion with your loved ones to celebrate Chinese New Year but for the sake of a better future, I hope everyone can remain patient and spend the festive season at where you are. Through our joint efforts, let’s work towards achieving single digit or even better, zero infection cases in the state.

今年会是不一样的农历新年，或许你们有些人未能与亲人团聚、过年，但是为了更美好的将来，希望大家可以保持忍耐，原地过新年，一起携手合作让槟州的确诊数据回到单位数，甚至是归零。

It is my hope that once the Covid-19 pandemic comes to a closure, the close economic cooperation between Penang and Chinese cities will resume and be restored to the pre-Covid levels for the continued growth of Chinese culture here in Penang. 

希望结束后，槟州与中国城市的合作经济活动可以恢复昔日的辉煌，让中华文化继续在槟州发扬光大。

For the start of the new year, I pray for world peace and the continued well-being and progress of the people while all ethnicities live in unity for a better tomorrow.

新年伊始，我祈愿世界和平，国泰民安，也恭祝各位新年进步，各族亲善团结，共创更美好的明天。

Let us toast for a long-lasting friendship between the Penang state government and the Chinese Consulate-General in Penang as well as greater heights for the ties between Malaysia and China.  

让我们共同举杯，祝槟州政府与中国驻槟城总领事馆友谊长存，马中关系再创辉煌。

Thank you.

谢谢。