Kids from homes treated to buffet lunch
KUALA LUMPUR: The food was good and there was fun. It was certainly a good way to spend the afternoon for some 120 children from three shelter homes who were treated to a buffet lunch by Federal Kuala Lumpur as part of the 61st Merdeka celebrations.
Sanctuary Home residents Dinesh Jeganath, 16, and Melvina Naomi Matthews, 14, said they were happy to be invited to the event.
“There was good food, we had fun, it’s a nice way to spend an afternoon since it’s the school holidays,” they said.
As souvenirs, the children were given flags and #AnakAnakMalaysia wristbands sponsored by EcoWorld.
The hotel also gave each home a 3kg velvet cake to take home.
Adding a fun element to the occasion was a special arrangement by KL Hop On Hop Off (Hoho) to ferry children from Rumah Nur Kasih Bestari to the hotel.
“They were pretty excited to get on the bus. Many climbed up to the open deck,” said Hoho executive Wan Ahmad Wan Yahya.
Taking care to ensure the menu was suited to their taste, Federal Hotels International (FHI) group head chef Law Weng Seng set up a burger and french fries station for the children yesterday.
He also made sure there were more choices in the dessert section.
“However, the ice cream counter was most popular,” said Law who was seen joking and playing with children.
Invited as the guest of honour was Tunku Abdul Rahman’s daughter, Tunku Datuk Paduka Khadijah Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj, who waved the Jalur Gemilang and sang the national anthem with the children before lunch was served.
Also present was Puan Sri Christine Johari, wife of former education minister Tan Sri Khir Johari.
Tunku Khadijah’s presence has a special significance to the hotel as this was where foreign dignitaries stayed when they were here to witness the Merdeka Day celebrations in 1957 when her father was prime minister.
“I am happy to be here. I am sure this was what my father would have wanted,” said Tunku Khadijah.
Her father, she said, was especially fond of children and once donated RM10,000 for the starting of a special needs children’s home.
FHI group marketing director Ooi Lee Ping said the occasion was befitting of an establishment which opened just three days before the declaration of Malaysia’s independence day in 1957.