Many Malaysians also took the opportunity to visit open houses hosted by their Chinese friends.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi visited the MCA open house at Dewan San Choon in Jalan Ampang, here.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik and other MCA leaders received them on arrival.
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LONGTIME FRIENDS: Dr Ling presenting a gift to Dr Mahathir at the MCA open house in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. |
Members of the foreign diplomatic corps and tourists joined some 10,000 Malaysians in attending the open house.
Some also took the opportunity to speak and shake hands with the Prime Minister who spent an hour at the open house. He also watched the Chinese cultural dances.
Dr Mahathir and the other dignitaries later attended the Gerakan open house at Wawasan Hall at Menara PGRM in Cheras.
In Kota Kinabalu, hundreds of people from all walks of life turned up at the open house of Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat at Kudat in north Sabah.
Among the VIPs was the state's newly appointed Yang di-Pertua Negeri Datuk Ahmadshah Abdullah and his wife Datin Dayang Masuyah Awang Japar.
Hosting the Sabah MCA open house at the Kian Kok school Hall were Datuk Edward Khoo, joined by MCA vice-president DatuK Seri Ong Ka Ting, who received hundreds of well wishers joining in the celebrations.
Crowds were also seen streaming to the open house of Sabah Progressive Party led by Datuk Yong Teck Lee at the Likas Sports Complex and the open house of Dr Yee Moh Chai of Parti Bersatu Sabah at a hotel here.
In Kuching, heavy rain did not dampen the celebrations, with Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abang Muhamad Salahuddin and Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud attending the open house of the Sarawak United Peoples Party at its party headquarters.
In Penang, the Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas and his wife Toh Puan Majimor Shariff visited the open house hosted by Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon at Fort Cornwallis.
The Peoples Progressive Party (PPP)’s open house was held at the Dewan YMCA in Jalan Macalister.
In Alor Star, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Syed Razak Syed Zain and his wife Datin Seri Sharifah Hamidah Syed Hamid were among the dignitaries at the Kedah MCA open house at the Keat Hwa Private Secondary School hall.
Kedah MCA Chief Datuk Beh Heng Seong and Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung welcomed them.
In Ipoh, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali, State MIC chief Datuk G. Rajoo and State Secretary Datuk Isahak Yeop were among more than 2,000 people who visited the open house hosted by Perak MCA Chairman and state Infrastructure and Public Utilities Committee chairman Datuk Ong Ka Chuan.
In Seremban, Negri Sembilan MCA Chief and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Hon Choon Kim hosted open house at the Seremban Town Hall, which was graced by Menteri Besar Tan Sri Mohamed Isa Abdul Samad and his wife Puan Sri Hazizah Tumin.
