Chief among the guests was PPBM president and prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Noorainee Abdul Rahman. The others who joined the Gerakan central committee members, women and youth wings led by party president Dominic Lau, were top leaders from PAS, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

Gerakan was accepted into the PN fold yesterday.

Muhyiddin thanked Gerakan for inviting him to be part of the event, which he described as very meaningful despite it being celebrated virtually to adapt to new norms at a time when the country is facing the Covid-19 pandemic.

The prime minister and his wife also joined the other guests in tossing the ‘yee sang’, a traditional dish synonymous with the Chinese community during the Lunar New Year.

“Gong Xi Fa Cai, Xin Nian Kuai Le and Happy Chinese New Year,” Muhyiddin said.

In his message, Muhyiddin said the Covid-19 pandemic has posed a huge challenge to the government and people, but Malaysia had the capacity to rise again.

He said this could be achieved through hard work by the country’s leadership and cooperation given by the people.

“I believe that the arrival of the New Year will further strengthen the commitment of the people, especially the Chinese community, to work harder to achieve success or victory in whatever challenges they go through,” he said in a Facebook posting.