1,000 attend District Chief’s Raya open house
KENINGAU: About 1,000 people attended the Bilog Family Hari Raya open house held at the residence of District Chief OKK Mohd Amir Datuk Arif at Kampung Bariawa here on the second day of Hari Raya.
The event was also attended by friends from the Chinese community, community leaders from Liawan Community Development Leader Unit, the Native Court staff, government officials and relatives.
One of the family members, Mohd Amir said that the Hari Raya celebration with Bilog family members was the first to be held this year and it would be held annually in future.
“These are just part of the family members who are present together to celebrate this event and it is also a prelude to holding a family gathering through this Hari Raya open house.
“I hope that next year, more of these family members will be able to celebrate Hari Raya through family gatherings,” he said.
Amir said the presence of the siblings and family’s relatives of Mohd Salleh, his grandfather will be able to forge close relationships among families, especially children.
He is confident that through this gathering, it will have an impact on the children’s affection as well as to strengthen family ties among family members.
“At the open house held at my home, it clearly shows the presence of many family members from Arif and Ampon only and hopefully at the same event next year more of the family members including the relatives of Bilog family can come together,” he said.
Amir also thanked friends who were also present at the family’s open house and hopefully with their presence it would be able to foster a good sense of goodwill and solidarity among the people of various races and religions in the state, especially in this area.
Former vice chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Datuk Seri Pamglima Dr Kamarulzaman Haji Ampon who was also one of the family members was also present.