Culture

By Ng Ai Fern

Pantang (taboos) have long been part of Asian culture. From pregnancy and postpartum confinement to schooling, weddings and daily life, many of these beliefs have been passed down through generations. Some arrived with our ancestors; and others evolved locally, shaped by our multicultural environment.

Chinese New Year, however, carries an extra layer of pantang. And depending on dialect groups – Foochow, Hakka, Hokkien, Cantonese – or even which country you are in, the “rules” can differ slightly.

Here are three well-known Chinese New Year taboos almost every Sarawakian has heard of.

1. The Lucky Colour – and the Unlucky ones

Chinese love red – without question.

It symbolises joy, prosperity, vitality and celebration. That’s why red dominates weddings, birthdays and, of course, Chinese New Year- from lanterns and couplets (red poetic banners placed at doorways) to angpow and decorations.

Interestingly, research shows that red symbolises happiness not just in Chinese culture, but also across Indian, Malay and other communities.

In some European cultures, the colour ’red’ indicates violence and anger. In Asian societies – especially within the Indian community – it expresses purity and happiness.

In Sarawak, we do not write people’s name in red, and never wear red to a funeral.

White and black, on the other hand, are traditionally associated with mourning. Some older generations still dislike wearing all-black outfits during Chinese New Year, as it resembles funeral attire.

Today, white wedding gowns are common, black outfits are fashionable, and cultural meanings have softened. Wearing red head-to-toe during Chinese New Year nowadays would be be more of a fashion disaster than a pantang.

2. Lucky Numbers — and Unlucky Ones

In many parts of Asia, buildings omit the 4th floor from their numbering.The reason comes down to linguistics: 4 (四, sì) is the same sound as death (死) in Chinese. Similarly, some Western buildings skip the 13th floor, and certain airlines avoid row 13, as 13 is traditionally considered unlucky in Western cultures.

On the lucky side:
• 8 (八, bā) sounds like fa (发), meaning prosperity
• 9 (九, jiǔ) symbolises longevity
• 168 is often read as “一路发” – continuous wealth

That’s why car plates with 8s can sell for astonishing prices.

Taylor Swift famously loves the number 13, calling it her lucky number. She has successfully rebranded her lucky 13 and featured it repeatedly in her work, including her latest Opalite music video!

Numbers only have power if you let them. So if you’re visiting a house numbered 4 during CNY – relax. No bad luck will chase you home. If you receive angpow with RM4, RM40, RM400 (which are really rare) – just keep it!

3. Sweeping the Floor & Washing Hair – Are You “Sweeping Away Luck”?

Traditionally, sweeping the floor on the first day of Chinese New Year is discouraged, as it is believed to symbolically sweep away the good fortune that arrives with the new year.

In reality, however, garbage trucks don’t operate during festive days – which makes cleaning before the new year (or slightly after) simply practical.

Another common pantang discourages washing or cutting hair and nails, based on wordplay that suggests you might “wash or cut away wealth”. Well, salons often close for days – sometimes even weeks during Chinese New Year.

And let’s be honest: Malaysia is hot, and hygiene matters. A bit of common sense goes a long way. It would be far more unlucky to fall sick and end up seeing a doctor or taking medication during Chinese New Year.

The Wisdom Behind the Pantang

Nevertheless, Some taboos still carry wisdom – speak kindly, avoid conflict, don’t break things, clear old debts, and start the year with good intentions. Those values never go out of season. In today’s society, where cultures blend naturally and traditions evolve quietly, it’s perfectly fine to loosen the rules. Respect the past, but live fully in the present.

Celebrate comfortably, eat well, laugh loudly – and welcome the Year of the Horse with a clear heart and an open mind. Happy Chinese New Year. 🧧🐎

By Ng Ai Fern

Did you know that 11 September 1945 marks Sarawak’s liberation in World War II?

Many Malaysians only became aware of Malaysia Day (16 September) after it was declared a public holiday in 2010. Likewise, Sarawak Day (22 July) only gained prominence after being gazetted by Sarawak’s late Chief Minister Adenan Satem in 2016.

So it is completely okay that many Sarawakians do not realise that 11 September (9.11) marks Sarawak Liberation Day – the day Sarawak was formally freed from Japanese occupation in 1945.

Here are 5 lesser known facts that you probably can’t find in a textbook.

1. When the war ended – and communication failed

In Sarawak, Japanese forces first landed in Miri on 16 December 1941, targeting vital oil fields. Kuching fell shortly after, and Sarawak remained under Japanese rule for three years and nine months, from 1941 to 1945.

Globally, World War II caused an estimated 70–85 million deaths. In Sarawak, exact numbers are unknown, but thousands of civilians and prisoners of war suffered or lost their lives.

When Japan announced its surrender in August 1945, conditions on the ground in Borneo did not change immediately or uniformly. Japanese forces were spread across territories administered differently before the war, including Sarawak, North Borneo (now Sabah), and Kalimantan, and each area experienced the transition at a different pace.

Notably, many POWs in Borneo were not released immediately after Japan announed its surrender. Liberation only came once Allied forces could physically reach and secure the region.

For Sarawak, this process culminated on 11 September 1945, when Japanese authority formally ended following a surrender accepted by Allied forces.

2. Why Are There So Many “Victory Days”?

World War II is remembered through multiple Victory Days because surrender was announced, formalised, and enforced at different times in different places.

Key milestones in 1945 include:

• 6 August: Atomic bombing of Hiroshima
• 9 August: Atomic bombing of Nagasaki
• 15 August: Japan announces its surrender (Victory in the Pacific / VP Day in Australia)
• 2 September: Formal surrender signed aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay (Victory over Japan Day / V-J Day in the United States), officially marking the end of World War II.

In Sarawak, however, things moved more slowly. Allied forces could not immediately locate or contact Japanese commanders in Borneo. As a result, the surrender in Sarawak was delayed, even after Japan had officially lost the war.

3. What Happened on 11 September 1945?

11 September 1945 was the day Sarawak was finally and formally liberated.

In Kuching, Major-General Yamamura Hiyoe signed the instrument of unconditional surrender and handed over his sword to Brigadier Thomas Charles Eastick of the Australian Imperial Force, symbolising the formal end of Japanese military authority in Sarawak.

For Sarawak, 9.11 is its true Victory Day.

4. Why HMAS Kapunda?

The surrender ceremony took place aboard HMAS Kapunda, an Australian naval vessel involved in post-war operations in Borneo.

After the surrender, HMAS Kapunda:
• Assisted in transporting liberated Allied POWs
• Supported the restoration of Allied control in the region

When its mission was complete, the ship returned to Sydney on 17 November 1945, was placed into reserve in January 1946, and eventually decommissioned and scrapped in 1960, ending a four-year wartime service that spanned more than 110,000 nautical miles.

5. Why does it matter today?

In 2025, Sarawak marked the 80th anniversary of its liberation.

A modern naval vessel was used to symbolically recreate the moment once witnessed aboard HMAS Kapunda, reconnecting the present with a long-forgotten chapter of history.

To commemorate the moment:
• The original Japanese surrender documents were formally presented to the Sarawak Governor (TYT) by Brigadier Eastick’s family
• A memorial monument was erected at Pending Point, Kuching

The whereabouts of the surrendered sword, however, remain undocumented in public records.

While less well known than other national commemorations, 11 September 1945 marks the day peace truly returned to Sarawak.

It is more than a date in history, it’s a reminder that freedom sometimes arrives quietly, delayed by distance, yet no less meaningful.

By Ng Ai Fern

Do you know how Batu Kawa got its name? Located west of Kuching along the Sarawak River, Batu Kawa is today a major suburban township. The name comes from two Malay words: batu, meaning rock, and kawah, a wok traditionally used for cooking rice. According to local folklore, the name is believed to refer to a pot-shaped rock formation along the Sarawak River, whose shape resembles a kawah.

While Batu Kawa got its name from Malay words, the names of many Chinese villages in Batu Kawa are rooted in Hakka dialects, one of the most widely spoken Chinese dialects in southern Sarawak.

According to the book “Memories of Batu Kawah in the Skylight” by Neo Hui Kiam, there are 12 riverside Chinese (Hakka) villages, which locals call “Gang Men”. In Hakka, “Gang Men” means door of the river (river mouth), referring to the early port settlement of the Hakka communities.

Many of these village names, derived from Hakka, are still used today on official maps. Here are three interesting villages for which you would need to know Hakka to understand the legends and stories behind their names.

1. Ha Toi Tel (下梯头)

Among the Hakka community, the old Batu Kawa bazaar was traditionally known as Ha Toi Tel (also spelt Ha Toi Teh), meaning “lower staircase,” a reference to the wooden steps leading down to the river jetty.

With river transport being the main mode of travel in the past, Hakka migrants who arrived from China in the early 19th century and settled in the Batu Kawa area mainly lived near river mouths and along tributaries of the Sarawak River. Their primary economic activities were rubber and pepper cultivation.

To bring their produce to market, villagers travelled by boat to Ha Toi Tel, which served as the central trading area. Goods were unloaded at the jetty via the lower wooden staircase that gave the place its name.

In 1927, a massive fire destroyed the wooden shops at Ha Toi Tel. New shophouses were later rebuilt a short distance away, in what is now known as Batu Kawa Old Bazaar. This rebuilt area eventually became the official town centre.

2. Kim Choo Seng (金珠盛)

Kim Choo Seng (also spelled Kim Chu Shin) is located near MJC on the way to Matang.

Today, it is largely residential with new housing developments, but in the past, it was a vast pepper plantation.

In Hakka, “Kim” means gold, “Choo” means pearl, and “Seng” means many or prosperity. When put together, it means “golden pearls prosperity”. One explanation is that the name refers to ripe golden peppercorns, which resemble pearls.

Another version of the name’s origin comes from a romantic legend.

According to the story, a heavenly maiden called Fong Xian descended to earth and was captivated by the beauty of Mount Matang. She lingered too long and missed her chance to return to heaven. She wandered around the mountain and eventually met a young man. Like many legends, they fell in love and settled at the foot of the mountain.

It is said that Fong Xian helped locals cure illnesses and even stopped a devastating disaster by sacrificing her own blood. When the Jade Emperor discovered that his daughter was living in Matang, he sent armed troops to bring her back. During the battle, Fong Xian threw golden pearls at the army. These pearls fell at Kim Choo Seng. The whereabouts of the pearls are still unknown, but the place is now called Kim Choo Seng.

Today, a pearl sculpture stands at SJK CH Kim Choo Seng as the school’s mascot, built in 2020 in conjunction with its 75th anniversary.

3. Sin San Tu (新山肚)

This village name is particularly Hakka-specific. Even Chinese speakers from other dialect groups might not easily guess its meaning.

Sin San Tu literally means “inside the belly of a new mountain”. Unlike most villages in Batu Kawa, Sin San Tu is not located along a major river tributary but on elevated land. Villagers had to rely on bicycles to transport goods to Batu Kawa town, both to sell produce and to buy daily necessities.

When early settlers developed the area for rubber plantations, they referred to it as a “new farm” — Sin San in Hakka. “Tu” means inside, or figuratively, inside the stomach. Together, the name refers to a large new plantation located deep inland.

There are other villages with equally intriguing names. Ha Sha Long (下沙拢) means “lower sand ridge” in Hakka, named after sandy ridges left behind by floods. Loti Kong (罗知港) is a transliteration from Hakka which some believe refers to Tudi Gong (the Earth God), though the origin of the name remains debated. As noted in Neo’s book published by the Association of Sarawak Chinese Academic Research, Loti Kong is the only Chinese village in Batu Kawa whose name origin remains unknown.

By Ng Ai Fern

When Chinese migrants settled in Borneo hundreds of years ago, they brought with them more than culture and food. They also carried traditions passed down through generations. One of these is Winter Solstice, a festival still observed by Chinese communities worldwide, including in Borneo.

Yes, Chinese communities in Borneo still celebrate Winter Solstice – the first day of winter – even though there is no winter here in Borneo.

Here are three Winter Solstice beliefs and taboos that many families in Borneo still observe today.

1. A New Year – You Become One Year Older

Winter Solstice is known as Dongzhi (冬至), which literally means ‘winter has arrived’.

This day marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. It is traditionally seen as the completion of one cycle and the beginning of another. It is usually celebrated a few days before Christmas. It falls on 21 December in 2025.

Technically speaking the solstice is a specific astronomical moment, rather than a full day, as explained by the BBC. This moment has long been important to astronomers and, in the past, guided agricultural activities by signalling seasonal change.

In Chinese tradition, Dongzhi was once considered the start of the new year. This belief explains why people were traditionally said to become “one year older” after Dongzhi, rather than on their birthday.

2. Family Reunion at Dongzhi

Like other major Chinese festivals, Winter Solstice is a day for family reunion. Traditionally, it is believed to be inauspicious to spend this day alone.

Even today, Chinese families across the world, from Borneo to France, Australia, Singapore, or China, often gather for a simple meal together.

Dongzhi is not an official public holiday in Sarawak or anywhere in Malaysia. It is also not listed as a paid holiday by the Sarawak Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Nevertheless, many still make time to leave work earlier and return home to celebrate with family.

3. You Must Eat Glutinous Rice Dumplings (Tang Yuan)

Winter Solstice is incomplete without tang yuan. These round Glutinous Rice Dumplings symbolise completeness, unity and harmony.

In some families, skipping tang yuan is believed to mean you have not “grown older” yet. In others, it is simply bad luck. Either way, the bowl of dumplings still appears, even in Borneo’s tropical heat.

Today, we can buy frozen ready-made tang yuan, or use ready-mixed flour to roll them by hand at home – a great family activity with young children. The dumplings are cooked in light sweet syrup, often flavoured with pandan leaf, and a slice of ginger.

Only after eating tang yuan, you’re considered one year older. But why? Ask the elders, they would probably tell you: it’s tradition!