Large crowd turns up for Hari Raya at Astana
by Jonathan Chia and Marilyn Ten, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on August 21, 2012, Tuesday
TOKEN OF APPRECIATION: Baru Bian presents a raya gift to Salahuddin while Norkiah (right) looks on.
KUCHING: The Hari Raya open house hosted by Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng and Toh Puan Datin Patinggi Norkiah attracted a large crowd to their official residence at the Astana, Petra Jaya.
Leading the list of dignitaries who visited their open house during the first day of Hari Raya were Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib.
Senior state ministers who visited the head of state’s open house were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Alfred Jabu Numpang, State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Senior Ministers Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
RAYA GREETINGS: Lau (right) and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin (second right) greeting Salahuddin and Norkiah.
WELL WISHES: Abang Johari is greeted by Lau (right) while state Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom looks on.
Among those present at the open house were Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Special Functions Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem, Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong.
Other guests were State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Kuching North City Commission Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai and Kuching South City Mayor James Chan as well as KTS Group of Companies managing director Dato Henry Lau.
The second day of Raya saw Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah and husband Datu Dr Adi Badiozaman Tuah visiting head of state and wife at the Astana here yesterday.
Others present were state Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chief Baru Bian with the party’s vice-chairman See Chee How and national women vice-chief Voon Shiak Ni.
“It is a privilege to visit the governor and the open house reminds us that as citizens of the state and Malaysia, an occasion like Hari Raya is an occasion for everyone to celebrate,” said Baru Bian who conveyed raya greetings from the party president as well as present the head of state with a token of appreciation.
“It is important that through such an occasion we forget about political alignment or political philosophies as such an occasion can unite us. That’s why we are thankful we are able to come together with other ordinary citizens just to visit the governor,” he added.
The raya celebration hosted by Salahuddin and Norkiah will continue today with an open house at their residence at No.88 Sri Impian, Jalan Temenggong Matang.
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