PUTRAJAYA - After missing Hari Raya celebrations for two years, Malaysians are excited to attend the Aidilfitri 2022 open house hosted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Cabinet ministers, today.
For Malay food lover Choo Keng Chung, he has never missed the Prime Minister’s Aidilfitri open house since the 1980s.
The 73-year old who hailed from Kuala Lumpur said he took a bus just to come to the event.
"I have never missed a chance to come to the open house since the 1980s when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister.
"Malay cuisine has always been my favourite. I love rendang and keropok lekor the most.
"That is why I don't mind taking a bus here at 8am from Kuala Lumpur. I arrived at Putrajaya Sentral at about 9.30am," Choo said while enjoying his food.
He said he knew that the Prime Minister's Aidilfitri open house would be held today (May 8) from the television.
Another guest, Rosaline, 28, said she started queuing for the event as early as 7am.
She said it was not her first time attending an open house hosted by the Prime Minister.
"I arrived at 7am here and started lining up, because for me this is an exciting event. I have attended the previous Prime Ministers' open houses and I had fun during those events. So I am really excited for this one too,” she said.
Not minding the long queue, guests have been lining up since as early as 5am for the event which started at 9.30am.
About 70,000 visitors were expected to attend the open house.The event at Laman Sari, Seri Perdana Complex, here, is expected to last until 4pm.
Ismail Sabri who was accompanied by wife, Datin Seri Muhaini Zainal Abidin arrived at about 10am.
As soon as they arrived, they greeted the guests and gave duit raya to the children who were there.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah also attended the Aidilfitri open house in Seri Perdana.
His Majesty was greeted by Ismail Sabri and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, upon his arrival at 11.30am.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad who was present said she was thankful that the event received overwhelming response from the public.
"I got the chance to greet visitors who came from all over the country. Those who were from Sabah, Kelantan drove here from last night.
"When I asked them when did they arrive, some said they were here as early as 5am and went to perform their prayers first before queuing.
"On behalf of the Cabinet, i would like to thank everyone who came,” she said.
Themed ’Raya Keluarga Malaysia, Syawal Dirai, Nikmat Disyukuri’, the open house featured the village atmosphere concept.
There were more than 30 stalls serving up to 40 types of food and drinks at the event.
Also present at the event were Senior International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili and Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.Later in the afternoon Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, Health Minister Khairy Jamaludin also arrived.
Bagan Datuk MP Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and his wife Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad also attended the event.
It has been a tradition for the Prime Minister’s Aidilfitri open house to be held on the first day of Aidilfitri.
However, to give people the opportunity to celebrate the festival with their loved ones at their hometowns first after two years of not being able to do so, the event was held on the seventh day of Aidilfitri (May 8), instead.
The last time the open house was held was on June 5, 2019, in Seri Perdana and was hosted by then prime minister Mahathir and Cabinet members.