Traffic a breeze as Penangites prepare for CNY reunion dinner

GEORGE TOWN: Traffic along the main roads in Penang were surprisingly light as thousands of residents begin to congregate in their homes and rented premises to mark the auspicious family reunion dinner.
Hotels and restaurants, several operators reported brisk business despite concerns about prices of goods, as the Year of the Earth Dog approaches.
In the Air Itam wet market, shoppers were seen busily preparing for their sumptuous dinner meals, and some even brought along their canine pets to illustrate that it is the dog year ahead.
Tay Sim Keng, 55, a housewife who just finished her marketing and was having her daily dose of kopi-o at the market, said that she was preparing the usual dishes for tonight's reunion dinner.
"The food includes braised duck, steamed fish, assorted vegetables, pork belly soup and so on," she added.
Tan Sin Ho, 69, an elderly woman who was shopping at the Air Itam Market said she was only there to buy vegetables because her son and daughter-in-law have already got the rest covered.
"My son and daughter-in-law will be doing all the cooking later so I can rest and give the occasional advice on certain cooking methods," she said.
A shopper at Sunshine Farlim hypermarket said she was there to buy some last minute titbits and mandarin oranges.
"All my family members are coming back this year so I have to make sure that the food supply is enough for all of them at home," she commented.
When contacted regarding the traffic condition during this festive season, state traffic police head DSP Mohd Ridzuan Ishak said there were no serious traffic congestion on the roads of Penang.
He said the traffic flow is relatively smooth this year and he urged motorists to take precautions and travel safely during the festive period.