Alor setar: Towering at 12 feet high and 16 feet long, a giant wooden rocking horse now greets visitors at the San Sheng Welfare Organisation Cultural Heritage Village, becoming a nostalgic centrepiece for this year's Chinese New Year celebration.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the eye-catching replica was inspired by childhood memories of a once-popular toy that is rarely seen today. Permanent adviser Pang Hu Khong, aged 62, shared that the idea came to him about two months ago as he reminisced about playing with a wooden rocking horse during his youth.

'Nowadays it is hard to find wooden rocking horses. Children today may not even know about them. If there are any, they are usually metal ones in playgrounds, but they are not the same,' Pang explained.

Pang, along with five volunteers, dedicated two months to building the structure using recycled wood and iron, primarily working in the evenings and at night due to their full-time jobs. The replica was completed on February 10 and has since evoked childhood memories among its creators while attracting visitors from various communities eager to capture photographs.

For now, the public can view the installation during the day, with decorative lighting scheduled to begin on February 17, the first day of the celebration. The cultural village will offer free entry to visitors until March 3.

In addition to the giant rocking horse, the village is hosting an array of activities, including wayang kulit performances and a nostalgia gallery displaying old televisions, radios, and mobile phones to introduce younger generations to past lifestyles. Pang emphasized the incorporation of various cultural elements of Kedah, reflecting Malaysia's multiracial society.

'I hope people will come to learn and understand one another's cultures so that we can respect each other's religions and races in harmony,' Pang stated.