40-year friendship sees DPM make time to attend Celestine Ujang’s birthday do
KUCHING: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi took some time off his tight visiting schedule here to attend former state cabinet minister Tan Sri Celestine Ujang’s 70th birthday dinner on Sunday night.
Zahid touched down here at 7pm and immediately made his way to The Sarawak Club where the birthday dinner was held.
He presented Ujang with a birthday gift upon arrival and the duo spent some time catching up with each other before proceeding to the dinner.
According to Ujang’s family members, the friendship between both Zahid and the former state cabinet minister goes back some 40 years.
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, who is married to Ujang’s second daughter Angelina, was among those who welcomed Zahid at the venue.
Joining the Deputy Prime Minister at the dinner were Deputy Home Minister Datuk Masir Kujat and Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Ujang retired from active politics since 2001. Formerly Kemena assemblyman, he held several portfolios in the state cabinet including Land Development Minister and Housing Minister.
He was also once a senior vice president and former youth chief of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
The dinner was hosted by his wife Puan Sri Elizabeth Pawa, daughters Maliva, Angelina and Dr Priscilla, sons-in law Freddy and Nanta, and five grandchildren.
Also present were former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, former state minister and former PBB secretarygeneral Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi Jugah, Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Penguang Manggil, Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum and other distinguished guests.
Zahid spent about an hour at the dinner before proceeding to visit the Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house hosted by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg at the latter’s official residence Sri Minangkabau.
The Deputy Prime Minister was scheduled to visit Gawai open houses of Deputy Chief Ministers Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Jemut Masing and Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah yesterday.
He also made Hari Raya visits to Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.