Malaysians usher in the New Year

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians ushered in the New Year at popular spots and were treated to spectacular fireworks show and concerts throughout the country.
In the capital city, the skyline over places like the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), Bukit Bintang and Dataran Merdeka lit up into a kaleidoscope of colours as fireworks exploded over them.
In KLCC, amidst tight security, thousands of spectators, both local and foreign were treated to a concert prior to the countdown as 2016 drew to a close.
The KLCC Park beside the Petronas Twin Towers saw many spectators donning electronic hairbands to light up the area and blowing their vuvuzelas to welcome the New Year in a carnival-like fashion.
In GEORGE TOWN, thousands of people celebrated the New Year by going to the Penang Times Square in front of M Mall in Jalan Datuk Keramat.
They enjoyed a concert by local artistes, dance performances as well as a fireworks display.
While at the Penang Times Square, nearly 5,000 people were entertained by a concert themed "Let's Emoji" performed by local artistes.
Penangites also flooded the Gurney Paragon Mall in Persiaran Gurney to watch local artiste Dayang Nurfaizah belt out several numbers along with dance performances before hundreds of balloons were released into the air at exactly midnight.
The late rain shower in MALACCA did not prevent more than 10,000 people from attending the state-level celebrations at the Dataran 1Malaysia in Klebang.
Organised by Tourism Malacca, the celebrations saw singers like Datuk Ramli Sarip and Ito Blues Gang rock the concert stage along with fireworks display.
The event also saw Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron launching the 2017 Malacca Tourism Calendar.
In KUCHING, spectators thronged to the Kuching Waterfront to usher the New Year.