Najib Joins MIC's Deepavali Celebration At Batu Caves
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 18 Octo
Photo: Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR -- The presence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at MIC’s Deepavali Open House at the Batu Caves Temple compound today certainly made the celebration of the “Festival of Lights” all the more merrier.
On arrival at 10.30am, Najib, who donned a cream kurta outfit (traditional Indian attire), was welcomed by MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and other party leaders.
He then visited a special kolam (an art form using coloured rice) themed “Negaraku” before being accompanied to the stage by the VIPs to the cheers of the multi-racial crowd.
Drum beats, flute music and traditional dances further added to the merriment of the occasion which was also attended by Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Transport Minister and MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities and Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, Malaysia’s Special Envoy for Infrastructure to India and South Asia Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalantahan and Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.
The guests were feted to traditional Indian dishes among others like tosai, chicken masala and briyani .
Despite it being a hot day, it did not stop the crowd which also included foreign tourists from taking in the famed temple complex which has a giant statue of Lord Murugan. Selfies and wefies were the order of the day.
Najib put the finishing touch to his visit by cutting a cake before moving to the Deepavali Open House hosted by the Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the HGH Convention Centre in nearby Sentul.
Elizabeth Smith, 31, a tourist from Oxford, United Kingdom, said she was amazed to see such a celebration and the multiracial crowd.
“This is my first time in Malaysia and witnessing how Deepavali is celebrated here. Everything is so colourful and vibrant.”
“I simply cannot wait to taste all the traditional food served at this open house,” she told Bernama.
S. Ananthan, 70, said he and his wife came all the way from Ipoh to “feel the excitement” of the celebration at Batu Caves.
“Getting to see the Prime Minister up close was an added bonus,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
On arrival at 10.30am, Najib, who donned a cream kurta outfit (traditional Indian attire), was welcomed by MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and other party leaders.
He then visited a special kolam (an art form using coloured rice) themed “Negaraku” before being accompanied to the stage by the VIPs to the cheers of the multi-racial crowd.
Drum beats, flute music and traditional dances further added to the merriment of the occasion which was also attended by Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Transport Minister and MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities and Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, Malaysia’s Special Envoy for Infrastructure to India and South Asia Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalantahan and Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.
The guests were feted to traditional Indian dishes among others like tosai, chicken masala and briyani .
Despite it being a hot day, it did not stop the crowd which also included foreign tourists from taking in the famed temple complex which has a giant statue of Lord Murugan. Selfies and wefies were the order of the day.
Najib put the finishing touch to his visit by cutting a cake before moving to the Deepavali Open House hosted by the Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the HGH Convention Centre in nearby Sentul.
Elizabeth Smith, 31, a tourist from Oxford, United Kingdom, said she was amazed to see such a celebration and the multiracial crowd.
“This is my first time in Malaysia and witnessing how Deepavali is celebrated here. Everything is so colourful and vibrant.”
“I simply cannot wait to taste all the traditional food served at this open house,” she told Bernama.
S. Ananthan, 70, said he and his wife came all the way from Ipoh to “feel the excitement” of the celebration at Batu Caves.
“Getting to see the Prime Minister up close was an added bonus,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak shakes hands with guests at MyPPP’s Deepavali open house in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, October 18, 2017. — Bernama picKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was at Little India in Brickfields here today to add gaiety to the Deepavali Open House organised by MyPPP.
The prime minister, accompanied by Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, arrived at the event at 11.45am and was welcomed by MyPPP president Tan Sri M. Kayveas.
He was then taken to a stage and garlanded with flowers, before cutting a cake and then joined the crowd to a feast, which included banana leaf rice and putu mayam.
About 5,000 people, including tourists, attended the open house which served various delicacies synonymous with the Indian community, such as adey, papadom, payasam and rasam.
The prime minister was there for about half an hour.
Meanwhile, Kayveas, when met by the media, said Malaysians were lucky to be able to celebrate their religious ceremony in harmony.
He said the concept of equality practised in the country had ensured none of the people were left out in the country’s development, including the Indian community.
“However, it is very saddening when there are quarters trying to ‘menangguk di air yang keruh’ (taking advantage of a troubled situation), saying that the Indian community is neglected by the government and not given the necessary assistance,” he said.
He urged all quarters not to be influenced by such baseless accusations against the government. — Bernama
Read more at http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/najib-joins-the-festive-fun-at-myppps-deepavali-celebrations#BG3rvEMmK5XKylJE.99
