Thousands throng Johor Ruler’s Raya open house at Istana Besar

JOHOR BARU: The hot weather did not stop thousands of people from making their way to the Hari Raya open house of Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar at Istana Besar here on Sunday (April 23).

Visitors were making a beeline up to the front of the palace as early as 9am, and by noon, the line along Jalan Ayer Molek had stretched to about 1km as more and more people made their way here.

This is the Johor Ruler's first Hari Raya open house since the Covid-19 pandemic. His Majesty’s last open house was in 2019 at Istana Pasir Pelangi.

The crowd - including the state’s top leaders and officials - were treated to an array of local cuisine, such as cendol, ketupat, rendang and nasi briyani.

Children attending the open house were also handed duit raya and goodie bags.

Sultan Ibrahim was seen personally welcoming and greeting visitors, both top leaders and regular citizens alike. He also spent some time shaking hands with the crowd who had been eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of the Johor Ruler.

Also present were Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah and and other members of the Johor Royal family.

Among guests who attended the open house include Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, state secretary Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani, state speaker Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, state executive councillors, assemblymen as well as other top state officials and leaders.

On Friday (April 21), the Sultan announced on his official Facebook page that he will be inviting people from all walks of life to his open house on the second day of Hari Raya from 9am until 1pm.