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KUCHING, 10 February 2025 — The Chinese Martial Art Association (CMAA) celebrated its 51st anniversary with a grand Chinese New Year (CNY) dinner at Hong Ang Restaurant on February 9. The dinner, starting at 7 PM, was a joyous gathering for CMAA members, committee members, and supporters to show gratitude and reflect on their achievements.
CMAA President Chester Lim led the event, which honoured the efforts of all members, especially the Dragon and Lion Dance teams, who performed tirelessly throughout the CNY season. Among the notable attendees were CMAA advisor Kapitan Tan Kun Gee and founder/advisor emeritus Master Law Kaw Chai.
During his speech, Lim shared exciting news about CMAA’s future plans, particularly the upcoming Sarawak Open International Dragon and Lion Dance Cup 2025, set to be held in July or August.
“This is one of the biggest events in Malaysia, and we’re proud to organise it again with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts,” said Lim.
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CMAA organises four major events annually, including state-level competitions and tourism-related showcases. Last year, CMAA coordinated a large-scale Lion Dance Festival, featuring 80 lions and several dragons for the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC). Lim expressed hopes to lead a similar event this year.
The association’s lion and dragon dance teams are also a key part of Sarawak’s official Chinese New Year celebrations. This year, they performed at the Sarawak Chinese New Year Open House at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
Reflecting on CMAA’s long journey since its founding in 1974, Lim highlighted the importance of preserving cultural heritage through traditional performances as well as achievements in the arena of sports. In the 2024 Malaysia Nationals, the CMAA Northern Lion Dance Team grabbed the historic silver and bronze medals, the best for Sarawak to date.
“This dinner is not just a celebration of Chinese New Year, but also a tribute to the dedication and unity of our members over the past 51 years,” he said.
The evening concluded with fine dining and the distribution of angpows to team members as tokens of appreciation. The atmosphere was filled with joy, laughter, and the spirit of togetherness, marking yet another milestone in CMAA’s rich history.