CHURCHES GEAR UP FOR CHRISTMAS, PEOPLE OPT FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO HEAD HOME

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- As Christmas approaches tomorrow, churches across the city are gearing up to celebrate the annual religious holiday.

At The Church of Our Lady of Fatima in Brickfields, staff and parishioners are busy with the final decorative touches to create a festive atmosphere and embrace the spirit of Christmas.

The church is adorned in traditional red and green, with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and a hanging wreath filling the space with holiday cheer.

Parish administrator Reverend Andrew Manickam told Bernama that the church will hold two Mass sessions tonight, at 6 pm and 10.30 pm, with an additional Tamil-language one at 8 pm.

"We typically see a congregation of between 300 and 500 people for each service, but since the 10.30 pm Mass falls just before Christmas arrives, we expect a larger crowd," he said.

Meanwhile, churchgoer Carmen Leslie, 25, shared her love for the Christmas festivities, saying churches around the city come alive with energy and group activities.

“One of my favourites is Christmas carolling, which starts in the first week of December and continues until Christmas Eve.

“First we choose a theme. Then sometimes we perform in churches or even go carolling at the doorsteps of our members' homes,” she said.

Titus David, 25, also expressed his joy for the holiday, especially the tradition of exchanging gifts with friends and being thrilled by the excitement of his friends' reactions when they receive unexpected gifts. 

“You never really know what you’re going to get, and that’s one of the things I enjoy most about Christmas. It’s not about the gift itself, but the thought that counts,” he said. 

Meanwhile, many people are making the most of the Christmas holiday to return to their hometowns by express bus or the Electric Train Service (ETS) to celebrate with their loved ones, as it coincides with the school break.

A Bernama survey found that many people believe public transportation not only reduces the risk of accidents but is also cheaper compared to driving.

Private sector worker Vivian Lee, 38, who hails from Butterworth, Penang, decided to take an express bus with her two children instead of driving, as she had in previous years.

"I didn't want to face the traffic congestion again. I had to endure a seven-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, which was extremely tiring," she said when met by Bernama at the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) in Kuala Lumpur.

Whereas, businessman Darvin Rajput, 42, said the increasingly efficient and convenient ticket-purchasing was a major factor in returning to his hometown in Alor Setar, Kedah via the ETS. 

"We had to buy tickets directly at the counter in the past, but now everything has become so much simpler. Public transportation is very comfortable, safe, and cost-effective," he told Bernama at KL Sentral.

Private university student Edward Wong, 26, pointed out that in addition to being more practical public transport also offers significant environmental benefits by reducing air pollution.

"When more people use public transportation, there are fewer vehicles on the road, which helps reduce harmful carbon emissions, especially since most vehicles run on fossil fuels," he said.

-- BERNAMA