Selangor MB Amirudin Shari at the Selangor Christmas open house in Kajang. With him is YB Hee Loy Sian (left). - Photo: SAMUEL ONG / The Star
More time to read and better discipline with work and family - these are the new year's resolutions shared by Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari at the state-level Christmas open house.
Patting his gut at the same time, Amirudin also said he would also have to work on losing some weight as well.
Santa Claus, carollers, a swing jazz band called the Frankie Sixes led by Reza Salleh and 25 stalls serving a variety of Malaysian favourites enlivened the Christmas celebrations at the public field near the Kajang Municipal Council on Saturday evening (Dec 12).
Organised by Tourism Selangor, the food was prepared by Yayasan Hijrah Selangor with the help of 50 food entrepreneurs in Kajang.
The entire bill, estimated at RM70,000 was paid for by Selangor Agricultural Corporation (PKPS).
Though it was raining and there were muddy puddles at the field, a large group of visitors turned up.
John Bilong, one of those who came, summed up the spirit of the evening in one simple phrase:
“Forget about the rain and mud. Let’s just have fun!” said the father of six who had brought his wife Viviana Awing and three of his children to the event.
Seen slushing through the wet field was Paulin Poovan and his wife Magdalene James balancing plates of food as they tried to ward off the rain with their umbrellas.
Despite the "splashy" setting, they said there was a strong Christmas spirit at the event and they took the mud as part of the fun.
Poovan, who later got a chance to shake hands with Amirudin, said he was happy to have been part of the event.
In his speech to the crowd, Amirudin quoted from Pope Francis's Christmas message from 2016 urging peace, humanity and justice.
He also presented a mock cheque of RM125,000 to Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Julian Leow.
The sum is to be divided among 25 churches in Kajang. Mahkota Cheras Methodist Church lay leader Hoo Kie Ngie said it will most likely go towards the coming Christmas celebrations.
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