Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad greeting visitors to his Raya Open House at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya June 5, 2019. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
PUTRAJAYA, June 5 — On the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri today, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad apologised to Malaysians if his actions had caused them any unease throughout the past year.
At the same time, the 93-year-old expressed thankfulness at being able to celebrate the Muslim holiday together with the tens of thousands of people who thronged Seri Perdana here.
“Maaf zahir dan batin to all rakyat Malaysia for anything done this past year that caused you unease,” he said in a brief speech at the tents housing the food stalls for the crowd.
“I am very grateful because we can celebrate together this year, and I pray in the year to come also,” he said, before extending Hari Raya greetings on behalf of his wife and family to Malaysians.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali arrive for his Raya Open House at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya June 5, 2019. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
Welcoming the crowd, he said that Malaysians celebrating festivities together would lead to continued harmony.
“Multiracial and multi-religion, but we can be together in peaceful conditions.
“This is our country, together we live in peace, we celebrate all festivities together.
“With that, our country will be peaceful, we will live in ease and in harmony,” he added.
People queue for the Prime Minister’s Raya Open House at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya June 5, 2019. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
Malaysians who had been queuing at least from 9am today got their first glimpse of Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Ali when the couple arrived at the tents in a buggy about noon.
In a reflection of the smartphone-toting era, many visitors were seen trying to record Dr Mahathir's arrival no matter how far they stood, some even standing on chairs to get a better shot.
Others desperate to get a closer look swarmed around Dr Mahathir and his wife amid heavy police presence.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad greets visitors to his Raya Open House at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya June 5, 2019. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
After his brief speech, Dr Mahathir shook hands for several minutes with some visitors, before leaving to the official residence where the actual greeting of visitors along with other ministers were scheduled to take place.
The crowd also whipped out their handphones to record the departure of Dr Mahathir and his wife at around 12.30pm to head to the official residence uphill.
As of about 1pm, an estimated 22,500 visitors had made their way to the open house at Sri Perdana in Putrajaya.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Cabinet ministers greet visitors to his Raya Open House at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya June 5, 2019. — Picture by Mukhriz Hazim
