By Diana Abd Wahab
PETALING JAYA, May 20 — Over 10,000 visitors spent a pleasant evening enjoying the food and entertainment on display at the Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house organised by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) yesterday evening, despite heavy rains.
Petaling Jaya Mayor Mohamad Azhan Md Amir said he was pleased to see the public come to the event at Laman MBPJ along Jalan Yong Shook Lin in Section 52.
“The Riang Raya@PJ celebration is a gesture of appreciation for the surrounding community, especially in Petaling Jaya, as we look to strengthen the relationship between the council and local residents.
“It also symbolises the closer unity between various races in the nation, as well as sharing sustenance and joy with the local community,” he said.
Also in attendance at the open house were Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, Bukit Gasing state assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran, Seri Setia state assemblyman Halimey Abu Bakar, and Taman Medan state assemblyman Syamsul Firdaus Mohamed Supri.
Some 40 types of dishes were served, including satay, grilled lamb, rojak pasembur, mi bandung, char koay teow, nasi lemak bungkus, murtabak, lemang, ketupat, kuih-muih, cendol, and apam balik.
Mohamad Azhan also presented duit raya to 1,000 guest children at the open house.
Visitors were also entertained by the performance of artists including Ramlah Ram, Haziq Rosebi, and Mamat, in addition to the performance by MBPJ staff singing the song Lebaran di Petaling Jaya.
Meanwhile, SelangorKini spoke to several of Riang Raya@PJ’s visitors, who said they were quite pleased with how things turned out.
One such guest is Japanese national Yoshida Akihiro, 53, for whom the event was the first time he has attended a Malaysian open house. He was effusive in his praise of the multiracial harmonious atmosphere of its attendees.
“This open house is very interesting, considering the culture in Malaysia is different from the culture in Japan. The food provided such as grilled lamb and cendol is also very tasty.
“The experience will most certainly be a wonderful memory when I return to Japan later,” said Akihiro, who works as a primary school teacher in Okinawa.
Private company administrative manager Dhanisha Jayamaran, 39, said she would not miss the open house with her family, in spite of the rainfall.
“I came with my husband and three children from Puchong, it was an hour’s journey to make it all the way here. We did not want to miss the chance of experiencing the excitement of an open house.
“Here, we could see the atmosphere of the multiracial community queuing in line, and some helping to bring food.
“Alongside savouring the various dishes served, I can teach the children traditional Malay culture and games, which were also featured in the event,” she said.
For Universiti Malaya’s Islamic Studies Faculty staff member Wan Amanina Wan Mohd Rosdi, 23, the programme is a vehicle for the unity of people of multiple races.
“In my opinion, this kind of event should continue to be carried out, as it is possible to get to know many people since you share a table with them to enjoy the food, even if you do not necessarily know one another.
“It is great to see a lot of Malays, Chinese and Indians queuing up to take food in a festive atmosphere,” she said, adding her favourite dishes at the open house are northern laksa and macaroni cheese.
