Open house hours extended
Friday, 7 Jun 2019
Meet and greet: Dr Mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah shaking hands with visitors at their Raya open house at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star
PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had the doors of Seri Perdana opened a little longer to welcome and greet visitors to his official residence on the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
The open house was supposed to end at 4.30pm but was extended for more than an hour to allow the crowd to meet the Prime Minister, his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali and other Cabinet ministers on Wednesday.
More than 50,000 people braved the unpredictable weather to celebrate Hari Raya at Seri Perdana, which opened its gates at 10am.
Among those in line were Tang Yuet Siew, 83, who said she wanted to shake hands with Dr Mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah.
Steven Chong, 53, said he and his mother Choo Moi, 89, had come from Sri Petaling, despite Choo being wheelchair-bound.
image: https://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/online/2019/06/06/18/03/131731.ashx?la=en
Festive mood: Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and his wife Toh Puan Norlidah RM Jasni, flanked by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and his wife Datin Seri Shuryani Shuaib, at the governor’s open house in Kota Kinabalu. — Bernama
Nurul Huda Abdullah, 55, from Sabah, was still standing in line after 5pm.
Accompanied by her husband Ben Dollah, 70, and nephew Masran Abdullah 49, they weren’t about to miss a chance to meet with Dr Mahathir, even if it meant queuing for two hours.
On the grounds of Seri Perdana, guests enjoyed Raya staples such as lemang, ketupat, rendang, satay and cendol as well as many types of kuih raya.
The festivities comforted Sharifah Aishah Habib Ali, 38, and her soldier husband Kpl Abd Rahim Embong, 39, who could not celebrate with his extended family in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak this year.
“The experience isn’t the same as in the kampung, of course, but we’re happy to spend some time together as family with our children,” she said.
Many foreigners also joined in the celebrations.
image: https://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/online/2019/06/06/18/03/131732.ashx?la=en
Royal greeting: Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah meeting the people after prayers at Masjid Diraja Tengku Ampuan Jemaah in Bukit Jelutong. Also present are Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah. — Bernama
Fumiko Akaishi, 37, from Japan, even came dressed in a purple printed baju kurung which she bought especially for the occasion.
“A friend of mine advised me to come early and I was at the door at around 8.45am,” she said.
Mustapha Tijjni, a Nigerian Master’s student at Universiti Putra Malaysia, said he enjoyed the sense of unity and harmony during the Hari Raya celebration.
“What I like is that although it’s a Muslim celebration, we have everybody – the Chinese, Indians – celebrating, which is very good,” said the 28-year-old who has lived in Malaysia for two years.
In keeping with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri spirit of seeking forgiveness, Dr Mahathir asked Malaysians for forgiveness for any shortcomings of the government in the past year.
“I wish all Muslims Selamat Hari Raya Aidifitri and mohon maaf zahir dan batin (seek forgiveness) from all Malaysians if we have not brought ease over the past year,” he said when addressing the crowd
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/06/07/open-house-hours-extended/#C8AqxIGEECeUiYBB.99
