FHI Gong Xi Fa Cai and Happy Chap Goh Mei Festive Charity Treat 2013

Federal Hotels International (FHI) Group Gong Xi Fa Cai Festive Charity Treat, an annual charity event jointly organized by FHI & FHI Group of Hotels, was held on Tuesday, 19 February 2013 at Ballroom I of The Federal Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with the auspicious year of the Water Snake.The old folks and children were captivated by the grand welcome of the impressive Lion dance performance by Ti-Ratana Children Welfare Society Lion Dance troupe at the prosperity door of The Federal Kuala Lumpur, filled with festive imperial setting - an Imperial Garden Pavilion with displays of magnificent décor inspired by the Imperial Chinese architecture with a structure of bridge made of bamboo and a fountain which brings good energy, harmony and prosperity. In the courtyard is the Chinese marble table with Chinese tea setting, the Garden is adorned with Chinese New Year festive decorations such as cherry blossoms, kumkuat, chrysanthemums, red lanterns for an abundance of Good luck, Good Fortune, Wealth, Joy & Happiness, Good Health, Longevity, Peace & Harmony to everyone.

Ms Ooi Lee Ping, Director of Marketing & Regional Sales said “Federal Hotels International (FHI) Group of Hotels in Kuala Lumpur namely The Federal Kuala Lumpur, and Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur welcome the auspicious, happy and prosperous Chinese Lunar New Year of the Black Water Snake, we believe in sharing the joy of this auspicious occasion and spreading the festive cheers with the old folks and children. This is our 11^th consecutive year that the FHI Group of Hotels organize this festive Gong Xi Fa Cai event. Bringing festive cheer and joy to old folks and children is our FHI Group continuous commitment, and we hope that this gift from our hearts will bring more smiles, joy and happiness all round by sharing this memorable joyous celebration together. There is no greater joy than be able to warm the hearts, spreading good cheer and bring a smile to the old folks and children. It is our great honour to have The Most Venerable Kirinde Dhamaratana, Founder of Ti-Ratana Welfare Society Malaysia joining us this evening spreading Chinese New Year cheer. Our FHI Group GONG XI FA CAI Festive Charity Event is part of our continuous FHI Group sharing and caring community commitments. Traditionally Chinese New Year is a time for family reunion, a joyous occasion for family get together and Open House for family, relatives, neighbours, friends and colleagues. We hope to share this memorable joyous occasion with some 120 old folks and children from these three homes namely Ti-Ratana Welfare Society, Siri Jayanti Metta Home Care and Yayasan Sunbeams Home. We are very happy that the Ti-Ratana Children Lion Dance Troupe ranging from 5 years old to 18 years old are once joining us again to officially open up our Prosperity Door to welcome these old folks and children as well as showcasing their spectacular acrobatic lion dance performance plus the rendition of a special Chinese New Year Performance by the Ti-Ratana Children Dance Group. We have also organized a special fun team game for the old folks and children to participate, and our tradition to toss Lo Sang, toss higher & higher for Good Luck, Good Health, Joy & Happiness, Good Fortune, Prosperity, Success, Peace & Harmony always.We want the old folks and children to remember and enjoy this special day, most importantly, we want them to know that we care and remember them during this joyous festive Lunar New Year.”

The old folks and children are treated to a sumptuous Chinese New Year Prosperity Lunch and Yee Sang inclusive traditional Chinese New Year favourites. Loh Hei! Loh Hei! To celebrate this auspicious Lunar New Year and spirit of togetherness, the Management & Staff from Federal Hotels International will toss the Prosperity Lo Sang together with the old folks and children for Good Luck, Good Health, Happiness, Good Fortune, Harmony, Prosperity & Peace always. Everyone will participate in the fun filled traditional Lo Sang with their chopsticks in hand, to toss and mix the colourful vegetable salad comprising all the ingredients together, with lots of happy & prosperous wishes voiced loudly together as the ingredients are tossed as high as possible, the higher you toss the greater your good fortune & good luck for the coming auspicious Chinese New Year of the Water Snake.

A gift of mandarin oranges, groundnut and Chinese New Year cookies is a tradition during Chinese New Year festive visits to families, relatives and friends. We will also be presenting a special Gong Xi Fa Cai festive hampers to all 3 Homes in addition to the old folks and children receiving Ang Pows.Our FHI Team have decorated the Ballroom I in Chinese New Year auspicious festive colours of red and gold denoting good luck, good fortune and prosperity and with kumquat, cherry blossom and many more. Each brings a special meaning, for example the kumquat is a symbol of good luck, prosperity & wealth whilst the pink cherry blossom is a symbol of good fortune.

The Prosperity Yee Sang is specially prepared by our Executive Chef and his team of Chefs from The Federal Kuala Lumpur comprising raw salmon fish, jelly fish, white radish, carrot, preserved winter melon, fresh and pickled ginger, pomelo, coriander leaf, crispy crackers, chopped roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, picked onion slides and papaya slides. To dress the Yee Sang, sweet sour plum sauce with a drizzle of oil, lime juice, five spice powder and a dash of white pepper will be used to pour over the Yee Sang. Each and every of this exquisite ingredients has a special meaning or a symbol of good meaning i.e. crackers represents Happiness, peanut and sesame seeds signify Harvest, oil represents Wealth, pamelo stands for Good Luck. The concoction of red, orange, green, gold, white and brown colour of the Yee Sang makes the dish a colourful feast for everyone to savour. Old folks and children will be treat to a 7-course Chinese New Year menu that includes Yee Sang with Jelly Fish & pomelo fruit; bean curd with seafood soup; roasted crispy chicken with prawn crackers; prawn filter with sweet & source sauce; braised Chinese cabbage with crab stick; stir-fried vegetable with mushroom kung poh style Yam Ring; and Red bean soup with deep fried mini pau.

The Management & Staff of Federal Hotels International and our FHI Group of Hotels wish you Gong Xi Fa Cai, Good Luck, Good Health, Good Fortune, Wealth, Peace, Harmony, Prosperity & Happiness Always!