Tang yuan tradition can’t ‘dry up’

GEORGE TOWN: Faced with a water cut at home, a data analyst had to buy drinking water to prepare tang yuan for her late father for the Winter Solstice Festival.

The 33-year-old, who wanted to be known only as Chew, said it is a family tradition to offer glutinous rice balls and prayers to the dearly departed on the festival.

“We live in a flat in Relau and the water supply has been disrupted since Wednesday.

“I bought 10 bottles of drinking water for my mother to prepare and cook the rice balls. It is challenging without the water supply.

“But preparing tang yuan is a must during this festival,” she said when met at the United Hokkien Cemeteries in Paya Terubong yesterday.

Chew was among 200,000 consumers affected by a burst pipe in the Prai river since Monday. The pipe channels treated water from North Seberang Prai district to most of Butterworth on the mainland and much of the southern and western parts of the island.

On Thursday, 9,000 consumers in Bandar Baru Ayer Itam were affected by a scheduled water cut, which was to allow the diversion of two major water supply pipelines in the area with a flyover being built as part of the undersea tunnel and roads project.

Among the affected residents was factory operator Tan Gim Swan, 56, who needed to prepare tang yuan.

“The water supply stopped on Wednesday and we reduced washing and cooking to conserve water. We paid homage to our ancestors with our own homemade tang yuan and takeaway food.

“Only a small amount of water was needed to knead the dough and cook the rice balls. We will wash the utensils once the water supply resumes,” she said when met at the Batu Gantong crematorium yesterday.

For housewife Cheah Khin Hong, 55, her apartment in Gelugor was also hit by a water cut.

“We had meals outside and bought the tang yuan from a shop. After so many years of celebrating the festival, this is the first time we had to buy tang yuan instead of making it ourselves,” she said.

Meanwhile, large pails were in demand, with many people queuing up to buy them at a shop in Jalan Paya Terubong.

Store manager Goh Hong Huat, 44, said the most popular size was the 125-litre pail which could store enough water for a household.

“As many areas are scheduled to face water disruptions, demand started picking up two weeks ago with at least 50 pails being sold daily, and this is expected to increase.

“Most customers are buying in anticipation of the 96-hour water supply disruption from Jan 10-14.

“The water authority will carry out valve replacement works at the Sungai Dua water treatment plant and related repairs at several other locations along the main pipeline,” said Goh.