Joyous welcome for 2008

Tuesday January 1, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians greeted 2008 with excitement and joy as tens of thousands of revellers turned up to usher in the New Year at massive countdown celebrations held at various venues all over the country.

Revellers partied until the wee hours of the morning both at public celebrations and private parties.

At Dataran Merdeka, thousands of revellers came to welcome 2008 with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.

The AmBank Group’s Konsert Sinaran 2008 also saw artistes such as Mawi, Awie and Wings, and Mila entertaining revellers with upbeat music and dance moves.

Indian artiste Ravetti, Chinese artiste Ice and veteran singer Datuk M. Daud Kilau belted a few medleys.

At midnight, the crowd was treated to colourful display of fireworks that illuminated the historical Dataran Merdeka despite the drizzle.

In his speech, Abdullah called on Malaysians to strive for more successes in the New Year that could help propel the country to a more progressive nation.

“All of us should work and achieve more successes for 2008. I hope Malaysians will feel more peaceful this new year and have a chance to advance themselves.

Fireworks light up the sky over Kuala Lumpur where thousands of Malaysians had gathered to usher in the New Year with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife Datin Paduka Seri Jeanne Abdullah. Crowds gathered in party spots throughout the city and in many parts of the country to celebrate the birth of 2008.

“My hope is that all Malaysians will enjoy bigger successes this time,” he said, adding that Malaysians should be proud to live in a multi-racial society.

Foreign tourists showed up to join in the celebrations and among them were E. Annelies and Tanja Coomans from Holland.

“ We really enjoyed the show and think it is much better than the New Year celebrations at Times Square in New York!” Coomans said.

The KLCC New Year Countdown also made a comeback yesterday with a bang with a 10-minute fireworks display.

The revelry started at 9pm with a concert featuring artistes likes Francesca Peter, Ella, Ramli Sarip, Search, David Arumugam, Ning Baizura, Imran Ajmain and Karen Kong.

In PETALING JAYA, some 100,000 people partied at the Central Park Avenue at 1 Utama’s Countdown Street Party which started as early as 7pm.

The crowd was entertained with 11 back-to-back performances that saw Paul Wong from Hong Kong (from the rock band Beyond), Estranged, Karen Kong, Danny One, DiGi CelebriTeen, BBoyz OriGenZ Crew, DJ Terence, DJ Eugene, and DJ Fono.

The fireworks lit the sky for a good 10 minutes at midnight.

In PENANG, some 10,000 people “rocked” into the New Year with a hip and happening countdown party at the Esplanade.

In GENTING HIGHLANDS, thousands of revellers were treated to a 15-minute firework display.

In JOHOR BARU, thousands gathered at Danga Bay beach in for the New Year’s Eve party. Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman joined the crowd to usher in 2008.

The revellers were treated to performances by artistes such as Dayang Nurfaizah, William Tan Wei Lian, Chew Shin Huey and Vince.

In IPOH, some 50,000 people congregated at Dataran Ipoh to celebrate the New Year with colourful fireworks display.

Source: The Star

Tahun Baru 2008 disambut sederhana

Oleh S.ANAND KUMAR dan RAJA SYAHRIR ABU BAKAR

KUALA LUMPUR 31 Dis. – Kedatangan Tahun Baru 2008 diraikan tanpa acara gilang-gemilang di seluruh negara bagi menghormati kesengsaraan yang dialami mangsa-mangsa banjir di beberapa buah negeri, baru-baru ini.

Selain pembatalan konsert berbentuk hiburan di sesetengah negeri, percikan bunga api juga tidak menghiasi udara sebaliknya digantikan dengan majlis kesyukuran.

Sambutan sederhana di ibu negara bermula dengan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi bersama isteri, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah serta 20,000 orang menghadiri Konsert Sinaran di Dataran Merdeka di sini.

Majlis yang bermula kira-kira pukul 8 malam itu turut dimeriahkan dengan persembahan oleh beberapa artis tempatan.

Acara pertunjukan bunga api juga diadakan di Menara Berkembar Petronas.

DI PUTRAJAYA, orang ramai yang melawat sekitar tapak Karnival GEGAR, Jelajah Tahun Melawat Malaysia 2007 dihiburkan dengan persembahan konsert Gegar sambil menanti kedatangan detik 12 tengah malam.

DI SHAH ALAM pula hampir 5,000 orang hadir di Dataran Shah Alam untuk bersama-sama menyambut tahun baru 2008.

DI KUANTAN, kira-kira 5,000 orang berkumpul di Jeti Shah Bandar (Taman Esplanade) bersama-sama Menteri Besar Pahang, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob bagi menyambut tahun baru yang berlangsung tanpa konsert dan pertunjukan bunga api.

DI JOHOR BAHRU, sambutan diadakan secara sederhana di pusat pelancongan Danga Bay.

DI KUCHING, lebih 10,000 orang berkumpul bagi meraikan tahun baru yang turut diserikan dengan pertunjukan bunga api di Dataran Esplanade Bintulu.

DI KOTA KINABALU, sambutan Tahun Baru diadakan secara sederhana dengan kira-kira 500 pengunjung memeriahkan acara tersebut di Kompleks Star City.

DI KOTA BHARU, kerajaan negeri Kelantan pula tidak mengadakan sebarang sambutan.

Source: Utusan Malaysia