Harmony reigns at open house

HAPPINESS filled the air at the Hari Raya open house of Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.

Mukhriz and his wife Tok Puan Norzieta Zakaria greeted their guests and later distributed duit Raya to every child present at the event held at Seri Mentaloon in Anak Bukit near Alor Setar.

Among the VVIP guests on Saturday were Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.

Mukhriz (in purple), accompanied by his wife Norzieta (next to him) and two children (in blue), distributing duit Raya to children at his Hari Raya open house. 

The 30,000 visitors, who were from all walks of life, were allowed to pose for wefies with Mukhriz’s family and also with the premier and his wife.

Guests were treated to a variety of traditional dishes like nasi briyani, ayam merah, gulai daging, laksa, apom lenggang, fried koay teow and ais kacang.

Cheng (second right) and Kedah Chinese Assembly Hall committee members enjoying their meal.

Dancers and singers from Badan Kesenian Negeri Kedah were there to entertain the huge crowd.

Vivian Ong, 29, from Johor, said it was her first time attending the Raya open house.

Dr Mahathir and his wife Dr Siti Hasmah greeting guests at the Hari Raya open house with Mukhriz (next to Dr Mahathir) and Norzieta (right). — Photos: G.C. TAN/The Star

“I am very happy to have the opportunity to take a wefie with Datuk Seri Mukhriz and his family and also with Dr Mahathir and his wife.

“I was so excited to see them,” she said.

Dr Mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah posing with visitors.

Meanwhile, president of Kedah Chinese Assembly Hall, Datuk Cheng Lai Hock, said he noticed there were many Chinese visitors at the open house this year compared to the previous years’ events.

“This shows that the Chinese community is used to attending celebrations of other ethnic groups in our multiracial society.

“The guests of all ethnicities looked happy eating together at the same tables.

Guests helping themselves to ais kacang.

“Another different thing that I noticed this year was that guests did not have to wait for the arrival of the Mentri Besar or Prime Minister before they start eating,” he said.