By Natasha Jee and Clement Erik Wong
KUCHING: More than 1,000 have turned out at the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
After two years of not being able to celebrate the festival (in a normal way), the public were excited to partake in the event, with some arriving as early as 9.30am.
Although they are no longer require to scan the MySejahtera QR code to enter the premises or practice social distancing, everyone continues to wear a mask.
Taib clad in his light blue Baju Melayu, accompanied by his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib arrived to greet the guests at 12.45 noon.
Joe Ling and her sister, Ivy Ling, and their parents from Sibu were among those arriving earlier for the open house. They had arrived at around 10am and did not expect to see a huge crowd.
“This is our first time at the TYT’s open house, we are very excited,” Joe said, adding that her family was in Kuching for a three-day holiday.
Zaidi Ibrahim, a security guard from Kampung Gita also took the opportunity to attend the event since it was his day off. He came with a few friends.
“This is my second time at TYT’s open house. The last time I visited TYT’s open house was before COVID-19. What I love about the open house is to be able to enjoy the delicious food served,” he said.
Meanwhile, it was an annual affair for Nuratha Agatha, 33, from Kampung Semariang to join the TYT’s open house.
“I have never missed TYT’s open house, I have lost count of how many times I attended. The best part of the open house is to see the gathering of people for this joyous occasion,” she said.
She added that the crowd was still manageable as compared to the days before COVID-19.
“Most importantly, we have been vaccinated and follow all the SOPs set,” she said, who came with her family, including three children.
Taib traditionally holds an open house at the Astana, however, it is organised at BCCK this year.
They started to receive guests from 11am to 1pm and from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, including Cabinet Ministers, Deputy, Assistant Ministers, Members of Parliament and State Legislative Assembly and other dignitaries as well as the public.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and his wife Puan Sri Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang will hold a Hari Raya open house on the second day of the festival.
The public is welcome to attend the open house at Pullman Hotel here from 10am to 3pm.
Visitors must be in good health with no symptoms and comply with the latest standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the Health Ministry and state disaster management committee.
