Misconception About Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner

Recently I noticed a lot people who commenting on Facebook regarding the Chinese New Year SOP announced by the MKN minister at 4th February.
A lot of them, who are not Chinese, seems to have misconception about what is the reunion dinner is all about. The minister call it as “makan besar”, and forbid it at first and second day of Chinese New Year. There are several other things listed in the SOP, such as not allowed to do any house visit, and can only celebrate Chinese New Year with family members of the sane household.

Of course, a lot Chinese were unhappy with the SOP.
Those who commenting and insisting that “makan besar” must not allowed, as they fear of it could be causing spread of COVID-19. Why they think it will be causing a cluster? Very simple, they think the so called “makan besar” is like open house during Hari Raya Aidifitri, where everyone come and visit and eat together. I did not see any Chinese in those comment bother to explain what is the reunion dinner is all about and they are just bashing each other with hatred in mind.

Here, I want to explain what is the reunion dinner is all about.
Reunion dinner, is a family dinner at the day before Chinese New Year, where childrens and grand childrens back to home to have a dinner with the grandparents. It only involve immediate family members only. Cousins, aunt, uncle etc are not involve at all in the reunion dinner.

So why it was known by non-Chinese as “makan besar”?
It simply means during the reunion dinner, the dishes are more luxury than normal dinner. Usually you won’t have things like seafood or abalone during normal dinner. But during reunion dinner, it is the only time where the whole family which usually hardly have time to sit down together on the same table are now back home dine together, therefore dishes prepared are much better than normal days.
For poor family, usually those who hardly even have meat on the dinning table, this is one of the chance they can let their children to have nicer meal to enjoy while celebrating the reunion of the whole family.

It is understandable that we should not cross state or district during this MCO2.0 period. But for those who live in the same district, which the family members can usually go to each other house at the normal day, should be allowed to at least dine together the day before Chinese New Year. It really doesn’t make sense that at normal day during MCO2.0, they can go back to their parents house to have dinner, but is forbid to do so during that 2 days of Chinese New Year.

Fortunately a new SOP has came out after the ministry had made some adjustment, allowing up to 15 people to have dinner together, but can only allow those who living in the same district. Honestly, the number of 15 is more than enough, because I never see any family who all siblings and parents live in the same district that exceed this number. Usually they are living quite far away. Unless the parents are very productive and produce a lot of off springs, or else it is very hard to exceed that number. The only family I’ve seen exceed this number and living in the same district, is my cat’s family where all the children and grandchildren are living under the same roof.

So in conclusion, “makan besar” is not open house where everyone come to visit. It is just a close family dinner for only immediate family member.