20,000 throng open house (for Christmas Open House in Kajang)

Reading this article made me reminiscent about the open houses when I was young. It was so much fun cycling around the whole of Kajang. Well, the spirit of open house is still strong I suppose but only a small percentage still practise it. What happened?

Until the next time, cheers.

The New Straits Times, 27 December 2011

20,000 throng open house

KAJANG: The national Christmas open house held yesterday at the Kajang High School field, here, was attended by some 20,000 people of all faiths and races, including foreigners.

Dancers in colourful traditional attire performing at the national level Christmas open house at the Kajang High School field yesterday. Pic by Fariz Iswadi Ismail

Among those present were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, his wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman, ministers and deputy ministers.

The crowd was entertained to songs by famous artistes like Jamal Abdillah and One Nation Emcees and  treated to cultural performances as they feasted on a 1Malaysia spread that included satay, nasi biryani, macaroni and rendang.

Among those who joined in the festivities was retired army officer V. Vallayan, 65, who came  with his family.

Vallayan said he supported the spirit of 1Malaysia and wished that Malaysians could rediscover the old spirit of togetherness which everyone, regardless of race used to share.

“I still remember the camaraderie I shared with my friends of different races during my army days.

“Today, the situation is not like what it used to be but it is improving under the leadership of our prime minister.”

Katja Binder, 20, from Germany was fascinated with Malaysia’s open house concept.

“The celebration is very different from Germany but it is still very nice and colourful,” said Binder, whose favourite Malaysian dish is nasi biryani.

 

Binder is in Malaysia with his friends Magdalena Bau and Eva Maria Dietz, both 18.

   

At the event, Muhyiddin also presented 1Malaysia netbooks to 30 students who excelled in their studies while 200 charity homes received daily goods under the Kembara Jalinan Kasih programme organised by the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry.

   

Earlier, Muhyiddin and other leaders visited the home of Peter Ng Ah Kaw, one of the recipients of the house restoration aid under the Special Affairs Department.

   

Ng, 70, received RM1,000, basic necessities and a 1Malaysia plaque.

 

Ng told reporters that he and his family were overjoyed with Muhyiddin’s visit.

“I’m very happy. Today, I feel like a VIP. I didn’t expect many to come to my house. The deputy prime minister is caring and humble.”

DPM on Barisan's key to success (Christmas Open House in Kajang)

Article in The New Straits Times. I think it is alittle too political for an open house message. What do you think?

Until the next time, cheers.

The New Straits Times, 27 December 2011

DPM on Barisan's key to success

Muhyiddin says BN govt ensures all races enjoy benefits

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman (left) greeting the public at the national Christmas open house at the Kajang High School in Kajang yesterday. Pic by Hasriyasyah Sabudin

THE nation has enjoyed unity and prosperity for 54 years after independence due to the Barisan Nasional concept of power sharing and inclusiveness.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Malaysia was unique in this sense and the people should work towards strengthening this. 

He said the nation did not need people who wanted to see this strong base being decimated or weakened.
No one in the nation had been sidelined as everyone enjoyed the efforts to develop the country, he said, when speaking at the national Christmas open house at the Kajang High School here yesterday.
Muhyiddin, who is BN deputy chairman,  said the government had ensured this through  various policies.
 

"We have various transformation policies to change our society and to develop it towards 2020. We do not look at your race or background. Everyone enjoys it and gets the benefits."
Muhyiddin said the concept of  open house showed that people respected each other's beliefs. 

"We are thankful for this and are confident of the religious leaders in the nation.
"With this type of practices, the country will definitely progress," he said, adding that religious leaders could also give suggestions for the benefit of the nation.
He said the open house concept was unique to Malaysia due to its multiracial population.
"I have just come back  from Europe which is mainly Christian. But I can say that this is one country that celebrates Christmas this way. Hope we can keep this going," he told the crowd of about 20,000 people.
Muhyiddin said the 2012 Budget had allocated RM2 billion to be handed over to families earning less than RM3,000 a month -- a RM500 one-off payment, RM200 for tertiary students to buy books and RM100 for all school students. He said these were fine examples of BN's policies that did not look at race or background.

At least some of our residents got some goodies from the Government. Merry Christmas to all.

Until the next time, cheers.

The Star, Tuesday December 27, 2011

Families happy to welcome DPM as special guest

KAJANG: Odd-job worker Peter Ng Ah Kaw, 70, had a special guest at his house for Christmas – the Deputy Prime Minister.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin gave Ng and two other families RM1,000 as well as essential items.

“We were so excited to hear the Deputy Prime Minister would be paying a visit that my family started painting and sprucing up the house two weeks ago,” said Ng.

Warm reception : Ng offering some fruit cake to Muhyiddin at his house in Taman Sg Jelok, Kajang, yesterday. Looking on are Ng’s wife Wong See Moi (left), son David Ng Kim Fat (standing, red shirt) and Muhyiddin’s wife Puan Seri Norainee Abdul Rahman.

 

Ng’s efforts had some help as he was among 10 low-income families whose homes also received a makeover from the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry’s Special Affairs Department (Jasa).

His single-storey terrace house in Taman Sg Jelok here was repaired, including work on the roof and the plumbing.

“Since I paint houses for a living, I wanted to do that part of the repair work myself,” said Ng at his house after the presentation ceremony yesterday.

He said he was grateful for the donation since his monthly income only comes up to about RM500, of which RM200 is from the Social Welfare Department.

Retiree V. Voral, 88, and his wife V. Susama, 77, were also present to receive the RM1,000 and a hamper.

Voral said he grew vegetables in his garden to supplement his income.

Another recipient, Lam An Tai, 70, who is partially-paralysed, said the money would allow him to repair his motorcycle so his family could use it.

Thousands throng open house in Kajang

It's good to have such a celebration in our town after so long.

Until the next time, cheers.

The Star, Tuesday December 27, 2011

Thousands throng open house

KAJANG: Thousands thronged the national-level Christmas open house organised by the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry at SMK Tinggi Kajang.

The visitors brought their families to the open house, which started at 10am, and feasted on nasi briyani, rendang and satay, and enjoyed performances by local artistes.

Merry and bright: Santa Claus performing with Santarina dancers during the Christmas open house at the Kajang High School yesterday.

Themed “1Malaysia Harmony”, the celebration was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman.

Muhyiddin said he was happy that Malaysians were able to celebrate Christmas in a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere.

“Malaysia is one of the few, if not only country, which celebrates various festivals even though we are from different backgrounds.

“This is what’s unique about us and it is something we should treasure and preserve,” he said in his speech at the event here yesterday.

Muhyiddin said such open houses would foster mutual respect and understanding among the people.

“This will help ignite patriotism, especially among youths in our country,” he added.

Muhyiddin said the Government was focusing on transforming the country, be it in the social or political front.

“We must also strengthen the foundation we have built for the past 54 years. If we want to see Malaysia as a developed country in the next 10 years, we must uphold the co-operation that exists among us.”

Muhyiddin said government aid was aimed at reducing the people’s burden and this was proven in the RM500 assistance for households earning less than RM3,000 monthly and RM100 for students.

Also present at the open house were Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and deputy ministers Datuk Maglin Dennis D’Cruz and Datuk Joseph Salang.

During the event, 30 excellent students selected by the district education department were given 1Malaysia netbooks.

Some 200 houses received food prizes via the Kembara Jalinan Kasih programme under the Information Department.