Almost 40,000 attend DPM Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi's Open House

Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi with Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and wife's

 Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his wife Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis

New Straits Times

PUTRAJAYA: Almost 40,000 guests teemed the official residence of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for a Hari Raya open house on Saturday evening

Despite being slated to start at 3pm, visitors of different ethnicities and nationalities began to pour in at Seri Satria as early as 2pm to mingle with or catch a glimpse of the leader.

Zahid and his wife Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis, who made an appearance at 2.30pm, donned matching sky blue Baju Melayu and Baju Kurung, respectively.

They were seen exchanging pleasantries with the guests who wore colourful traditional and urban garbs.

By 3pm, guests had made a beeline for the food stalls that served various local dishes such as Nasi Briyani, Char Kuey Teow, Murtabak and Laksa as well as popular desserts such as Cendol and Aiskrim Potong.

In light of the spate of terror attacks all over the world and in the country, security measures were beefed up at the venue.

Also present were Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin and CIMB group chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Razak.

Meanwhile, visitors of different backgrounds who joined in the merrymaking were delighted to converge for the special occasion.

Civil servant Mohd Zain Musa, 44, who came all the way from Seremban with his wife Rashidah Abdul Rahman, 40, and their five children said he was happy to witness the same camaraderie he had been a part of at similar open house events during Hari Raya.

"I have gone to several 'rumah terbuka' events this year and it has been a pleasure to see people of different races or religions come together, sharing light moments and bonding over great food," he said.

Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi with the IGP Tan Sri Khalid