THE CHRISTMAS CONCERT ‘HARMONI OF HOPE’
SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR THE CHRISTMAS CONCERT ‘HARMONI OF HOPE’
9 December 2023
Wesley Methodist School, 1 Lebuh Sungai Pinang 1
A very good evening to all of you.
Thank you for your invitation to the inaugural Christmas Concert by the Wesley Methodist School Penang (International). Tonight, we gather to celebrate the culmination of hard work, dedication, and artistic brilliance of the Wesley community.
Methodist Education has a long history of more than 100 years in Penang, and your mission has remained the same throughout the years which is to provide education with Excellence and Compassion through holistic development.
Rooted in Christian values, Wesley Methodist School Penang (International), which started in 2018, has also gone beyond the conventional classroom experience to offer a holistic education that nurtures not just academic excellence but also values such as empathy, leadership, and a deep sense of purpose.
This Christmas, I am happy to note that you are taking this commitment one step further by focusing your talents on a cause that reverberates with the Christian values of community service and unconditional love—Charis Hospice Penang. Charis Hospice Penang provides palliative care and support to individuals and families facing life-limiting illnesses, and Wesley Methodist School Penang International (WMSPI) is channelling 100 percent of all donations and proceeds to this meaningful organisation, which will definitely play a significant role in helping them continue their essential work.
Ladies & Gentlemen,
We are all familiar with the significance of Christmas, which is to serve as the commemoration of the nativity of Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus was born to be the saviour of our world, as the light that would guide the world out of the darkness of sin and death and into eternal life.
However, Christmas, as we now know it, is more than a just festive celebration with religious connotation. It is actually a wonderful season for us to reflect on what we have done for the whole year.
It is also an empowering time as we plan and have hope for the beginning of a new year.
To all of us here in Penang and in Malaysia in general, Christmas is also a time for celebration, for gatherings with family and friends as well as appreciating one another, regardless of faith, cultural background and skin colour.
Such a wonderful gathering is part of the true spirit of Christmas in Penang, our beloved state that is rich in diversity, a state where we celebrate diversity and a state where we are united in diversity.
Ladies & Gentlemen,
As we enjoy the performances tonight, let us remember the essence of the season – the joy of giving. Your presence here contributes to a noble cause, and together, we can make a meaningful impact.
So, without further ado, let the concert begin! May the melodies resonate in our hearts, the colours on stage paint vibrant stories, and the collective talent of our students leave an indelible mark on our memories.
Thank you.