KOTA KINABALU: Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and wife Toh Puan Norlidah Datuk R.M. Jasni held their annual Hari Raya Aidifitri open house at the Istana Negeri for thousands of guests yesterday.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and his wife Datin Seri Faridah Tussin arrived at the Istana Negeri at 10.30am. Also in attendance were Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin and Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, State cabinet ministers and their spouses.
Other VIPs who attended the open house included Indonesian Consul-General for Sabah, Soepeno Sahid, Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir, newly appointed State Attorney General Datuk Mariati Robert, Sabah MCA chief Datuk Edward Khoo, Sabah Gerakan chief Datuk Gordon Leong, MIC Sabah chief Datuk V Jothi and their respective party members.
At 11am, the Istana Negeri gates were opened to members of the public who were treated to a variety of food.
As they ate, they were entertained by local artistes with Raya songs and later by Tun Juhar and wife who made their appearance to hand out goodies to children.
The management and committee members of the Sabah United Chinese Chambers of Commerce (SUCCC) led by its president, Datuk Seri Panglima Gan Sau Wah, also attended the open house.
SUCCC members mingled with the Chief Minister, cabinet ministers, government officers and political party leaders at the event in the true spirit of Hari Raya to foster closer ties with the government.
Gan later led SUCCC members to celebrate Hari Raya at the open house of the Consul General of Indonesia in Kota Kinabalu, Soepeno Sahid, at the latter’s residence.
Also present at Indonesian Consul General’s open house were Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan, Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, Batu Sapi member of parliament Datin Linda Tsen, Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Michael Asang, deputy assembly speaker Datuk Johnny Mositun, Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) president Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Khen Thau, Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Michael Lui, SUCCC secretary-general Datuk Ling Tiong Chai, chief consul of the Consular Office of Japan for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, Hirofumi Morikawa.