First Raya at home joy for ex-PM Abdullah

Tuesday September 22, 2009



KEPALA BATAS: Being able to spend the first day of Syawal in his hometown was a welcome experience for former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Abdullah spent most of the past decade away from his hometown.

When he was in the Cabinet - the last five years as PM - he only got to return on the sixth day of Hari Raya.

“I’m happy to meet my constituents and old friends on the first day of Syawal,” he told reporters at his open house celebration at Pusat Budi Penyayang here on Sunday.

Abdullah noted however that the number of well-wishers who turned up for the event was not as huge as previously.

“Previously, many people used to travel from other states to Kepala Batas,” he said, noting that the crowds this year were mainly from Kepala Batas and neighbouring areas in Penang.

On the tradition of holding open house, Abdullah, who is Kepala Batas MP, said many foreign ambassadors were surprised to find no protocol or security barrier was put in place to prevent people from mingling with the VIPs.

“The host also does not have to extend an invitation to visitors.

“When people know of an open house, they are welcome to attend without a formal invite,” he said, adding that such events could help bring the various races closer.

“The forging of stronger ties among Malaysians from different ethnic groups will hopefully reduce any feeling of prejudice,” Abdullah said, adding that the open house culture embodies the 1Malaysia concept.