Sunday January 29, 2006
Malaysians joined their Chinese friends to usher in the Chinese New Year
News Update from The Star Newsdesk
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians from all walks of life joined their Chinese friends in ushering in the Chinese New Year throughout the country.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi joined over 5,000 people of various races in a Chinese New Year open house hosted by MCA at Wisma MCA in Jalan Ampang.
MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and senior party leaders greeted Abdullah who arrived at 9.15am.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, cabinet ministers, Barisan Nasional (BN) component party leaders and foreign diplomats.
Abdullah and Najib later joined MCA leaders in tossing "Yee Sang" (a Chinese traditional dish of raw fish salad that symbolises abundance, prosperity and vigour).
The guests, invitees and well wishers were served with a variety of Chinese delicacies and entertained to lion and dragon dances and Chinese classical music.
Abdullah spent about an hour at the open house before leaving for the open house hosted by Gerakan at Wisma PGRM.
In KUCHING, the Yang Dipertua Negri Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng and state cabinet ministers joined the celebrations with the people hosted by the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) at its headquarters here.
In KANGAR, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, state executive councillors and assemblymen were among thousands of people who attended the open house hosted by the State MCA at Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Khoon Aik.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, about 20,000 Chinese ushered in the new year moderately, with more than 5,000 people of various races and religions visiting the MCA and Gerakan open houses.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, his wife and state leaders joined thousands at the open house hosted by MCA at the Chung Hwa Wei Sin Chinese primary school.
In MALACCA, Yang Dipertua Negri Tun Khalil Yaakob and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Ali Rustam were among the VIPs who attended the open house hosted by state MCA chairman Datuk Wira Poh Ah Tiam and other party leaders.
In SEREMBAN, about 5,000 people attended the Chinese New Year open house jointly hosted by MCA and Gerakan at the Seremban Municipal Council hall. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan was the guest of honour.
In PENANG, thousands of people including foreign tourists shook hands and exchanged greetings with Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon at the open house hosted by the state government at Fort Cornwalis.
Among the guests were Yang Dipertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, his wife Toh Puan Majmor Shariff and state assembly speaker Datuk Yahaya Abdul Hamid.
In ALOR STAR, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khir attended the MCA open house at Sekolah Menengah Keat Hwa hall and Gerakan's do at Sentosa Regency Hotel.
In JOHOR BARU, Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman and his wife Prof Datin Dr Jamilah Ariffin joined the celebrations organised by the Johor Baru Tionghua Association at Taman Sri Tebrau.
In SANDAKAN, thousands of people including Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman visited an open house hosted by State Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan.
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