Seeing the Prime Minister from afar makes eight-year-old’s day

BUKIT MERTAJAM: She is just eight years old but she wanted to meet the Prime Minister in person because of how much the grown-ups had been talking about Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

So Hazel Kaur constantly pestered her mother and together, they arrived at Universiti Teknologi Mara in Permatang Pauh at about 8.30am yesterday.

The Bayan Baru girl, her mum Prakash Kaur, 32, and a family friend, Ayu Berahim, 32, were among some 20,000 guests from Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Perak, who thronged the venue to attend the Malaysia Madani Hari Raya open house.

But due to the large crowd, Hazel only got to see the Prime Minister from afar.

For her, it was good enough and she went home delighted.

Prakash said her daughter had been yearning to see the Prime Minister since he was appointed last year.

Ayu, meanwhile, said she tagged along as she wanted to share the joy of Hari Raya.

“This open house is a great opportunity to share the festivities with my friends from other faiths,” she said.

From as early as 8am, thousands of people had packed the university’s campus to join in the celebration and for a chance to meet the Prime Minister.

Housewife Sarimah Mohd Sharif, 56, from the island’s Jalan Datuk Keramat, said she felt happy when she learned about a national open house in Penang.

“It is not often that a Hari Raya open house is held in the state.

“This time, Penangites can feel the excitement with the presence of Anwar,” she said.

Office secretary Chang Kim Joo, 38, said she was excited to meet the Prime Minister for the first time.

“I have wanted to meet him and shake hands with him from young,” she said.