Open houses of TYT, state leaders a big hit

KUCHING: Just like other festivities in Sarawak, this year’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration displayed the harmony and mutual respect amongst Sarawakians as Muslims held open houses and shared their food and drinks with friends and relatives from all ethnic groups and creed.

The fine weather on both days of Hari Raya facilitated the movement of people to visit their friends’ open houses, especially in Kuching where visitors needed to cross the bridges over Sungai Sarawak to visit their friends’ open houses.

In Kuching, many dignitaries and state leaders held their open houses, including Yang diPertua Negeri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud who held his open house at the Astana from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 4.30pm on the first day, and from 10am to 12.30pm on the second day.

State cabinet ministers, led by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, and prominent figures from the public and corporate sectors were among the notable visitors.

Abang Johari also held his open house at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching ( BCCK) on the first and second days of Hari Raya which also received thousands of visitors.

Shuttle bus services were provided at Padang Pasir (near Jalan Haji Taha) and the old DUN Complex compound to ferry visitors to the open house, held from 10am to 4pm on both days.

Assistant Minister of Coastal Road Datuk Julaihi Narawi held his open house on the first day at his residence in Taman Heritage from noon till 4pm.

Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip also chose to hold his Hari Raya open house at his residence at Taman Seri Sena II, Semariang from 10.30am to 6pm.

Meanwhile, a big crowd of visitors were spotted at the open house of prominent local businessman and philantrophist Datuk Abang Khalid Marzuki at Jalan Muda Hashim.

State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Ghani and his family received visitors at their open house at Kampung Pinang Jawa on the first and second days of Hari Raya.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dato Sri Wan Junaidi held his open house on the second day (yesterday) at the Old State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex banquet hall from 9am to 4pm.

Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi’s open house started yesterday at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and continues today from 10am to 12.30pm, and 2pm to 4pm.

Minister of Works and Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, meanwhile, will hold his open house today from 11am to 5pm at his residence in Lot 2390, Lorong Bakti 1B1, PJ Height, Jalan Sultan Tengah.

The Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka will again be the venue of another open house tomorrow, this time by Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman from 10am to 4pm.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim’s open house will be this Thursday at the Old DUN Complex banquet hall from 9.30am to 5pm.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah will hold his open house at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka here this Saturday from 9.30am till 5pm.

The Old DUN Complex is also the venue for another open house by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri on July 9 from 10am to 4pm.

Streams of visitors, some wearing traditional costumes, make their way to the Astana to exchange festive greetings with the Head of State.

Taib (fourth left) and wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib are seen enjoying a traditional dance presented by their Orang Ulu visitors. On Taib’s right is Orang Ulu National Association president Tom Balarek alias Abu Bakar Abdullah.

Tasik Biru assemblyman Dato Henry Harry Jinep (fifth left), his wife Datin Christina Esni Mied (sixth right) and their delegation from Bau pose for a group photograph with Taib and Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib at the Astana.