AFTER last year's relatively placid Lunar or Chinese New Year (CNY) celebrations brought on by a host of stringent Covid-19 do's and don't's, this year's festivities are surely not going to see a repeat because of a more enlightened set of standard operating procedures (SOP).
As we usher in the Year of the Tiger, expect it to be rip-roaring!
We've not forgotten the absurd rules that were proclaimed in the name of safety and protecting the celebrants.
Like the initial restrictions for the eagerly awaited reunion dinner, where it was stipulated only people in the same household may attend!
It made a mockery of the important annual get-together as these people from the same household would have eaten at other times of the year, too!
After a barrage of criticism, the rules were relaxed for family members staying within a 10km radius and up to only 15 family members.
Luckily, criss-crossing within the Klang Valley was allowed as Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya were deemed as "one district"!
This year's relaxation on inter-state travel means the balik kampung exodus or returning to an elder's home is likely to be huge.
Last year's mood was near-sombre.
Although shopping malls tried to look their best, foot traffic was relatively low as people weren't in the mood to celebrate.
One mall in Subang Jaya even tried to get the full value out of its expenditure on the decorations by removing the props only after two months from the actual date of the Lunar New Year!
But, sometimes, even the best laid plans can go awry because of the unexpected.
I was told that several people from different households in the Klang Valley of an extended family in Penang were looking forward to many celebratory get-togethers, only to be told that the Covid-19 virus had showed up even earlier in their patriarchal home!
This has put a spanner in the works as home quarantine and tests will take precedence over the "yee sang" tossing and other mouth-watering delicacies.
This goes to show that the threat of Covid-19 is still very much in our midst and frequent reminders about SOP are not without reason.
One of the best heart-warming things to have occurred this new year is the emergence of a CNY music video with Bahasa Malaysia lyrics.
Malaysians have always excelled in producing catchy CNY songs to the delight of the Chinese diaspora in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
This time, MVM Studio produced a catchy Bahasa Malaysia CNY music video with local artistes Ayie Floor 88, Harry Khalifah, Sarah Suhairi, Beby Acha, Lia Aziz and Aidilia Hilda.
Entitled Dong Dong Qiang — a term usually used to describe the sound of Chinese drums — the video lasts for four minutes and 16 seconds.
It starts with Harry and Ayie in samfu tops, wobbling on a bicycle with mandarin oranges, followed by pretty female singers dressed in festive red and orange kebayas, baju kurung, baju Melayu, cheongsam and samfu, doing
a dance routine during the chorus.
Pan Jung Xiang, its producer, was quoted as saying that it goes to show that the performers have no problems participating or integrating with other cultures.
Its lyrics are loosely translated as: "Today is celebration day, different races but we're still together.
"New year with our old friends, together we celebrate", and "On the outside we're different, but our hearts are still the same."
Netizens have been full of praise of Dong Dong Qiang.
One said: "This is the right way to go, Malaysia."
"Regardless of race and religion, this is the best, truly Malaysia," said another.
"Well done guys, it's much more than the typical CNY music video. Thanks for reminding us of the unity and harmony that we have."
These remind us that there is still hope as far as our country's goodwill and harmony are concerned.
As 2022 CNY eve is tomorrow, the exodus would have begun in earnest from Friday
Highway operator Projek Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan is expecting to see 1.6 million vehicles on the move from Perlis to Johor.
Let's hope everything will be smooth and that there won't be any hiccups from some wonky toll collection systems that have been described as rotten, frustrating, inconvenient and difficult — to the extent that we may roar in annoyance!
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
The writer is a former Bernama chief executive officer and editor-in-chief