州政府欢迎姓周桥理事会主动于志期1月13日来信诚意配合及寻求解决方式,因此在24小时内回信答应这次会面。
接下来合办文化表演的细节将会更深入讨论。
会议上州政府清楚表达了立场,州政府要举办的原本就是文化表演,根本不牵涉宗教仪式,因为州政府是属于世俗的政府,不办宗教祭拜仪式,但是支持及鼓励民间办宗教活动。所以桥民还是可以如以往一样在海墘大街祭拜天公。
因此,这并没有如有心人所谓的“闹双胞”及“打对台”的指控,因为州政府是在州政府的土地上办文化表演活动,周桥主席及总务也承认那是州政府的地段。州政府也尊重姓周桥理事会所要邀请的出席者,甚至包括邀请反对党的代表。
州政府在获得周桥主席及总务的写信通知并且在会议上解释之后,理解之前在没有联络州政府商讨的情况下率先拉布条不应该发生,也理解这两位姓周桥领袖才能名正言顺代表桥民。
州政府不会干涉姓周桥109年的天公诞祭拜仪式,只是为了更能彰显佳节气氛,才在当地承办文化表演。
姓周桥理事会也承认州政府并没有干涉姓周桥109年的天公诞祭拜仪式。所以,姓周桥理事要一起协办,州政府并不介意,准备一起配合。
届时,文化表演的节目经费将会由州政府出资筹办,姓周桥理事会仍旧可以发出他们的邀请函,同时省下筹措文化表演的经费。
槟城州首席部长政治秘书 槟城姓周桥理事会总务
黄汉伟 周明兴
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ENGLISH
Joint Statement by Wong Hon Wai (Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Penang) representing Penang State Government and Chew Beng Hing (Secretary of Chew Jetty Kongsi) representing Chew Jetty Kongsi on 19-1-2016 at George Town, Penang
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It is our pleasure to announce that the cultural performance on the night of the 8th day of Chinese New Year (Thi Kong Seh also known as Jade Emperor's Birthday) at Chew Jetty will be jointly organised by the Service Centres of MP for Tanjung (YB Ng Wei Aik) together with State Assemblyman of Pengkalan Kota (YB Lau Keng Ee) and Chew Jetty Kongsi,
We have agreed to do so after meetings between State Government and the committee of Chew Jetty Kongsi.
The State Government had stated clearly that the State Government is organising a cultural performance and not any religious prayer function “Thi Kong Seh”. The prayer ceremony will be organised by the Chew Jetty Kongsi.
Chew Jetty Kongsi also explained to the State Government about the demonstration which was done without consultation with the State Government and should not have happened in the first place. The State Government has accepted the explanation and acknowledge that only the Chairman and Secretary represent the Chew Jetty Kongsi.
The State Government is not interfering with the religious prayer function but helping the community to organise the cultural performance to complement and to build up the festivities for the midnight prayer function.
Chew Jetty Kongsi also acknowledge that the State Government is organising the cultural performance and not interfering with the religious prayer function which has been carried out by the Chew Jetty Kongsi for over a century.
The State Government will come up with the funds to support the cultural performance and Chew Jetty Kongsi will also invite their guests. This will help to ease the financial burden of the Chew Jetty Kongsi.