JOHOR BARU (ANN/THE STAR) – More than 12,000 visitors graced the Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house hosted by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi on Wednesday morning.
Among them was 17-year-old M. Yugasangkary, who arrived with her family at the front gate of the Mentri Besar’s official residence in Saujana at 8.30 am. The decision to attend was spurred by a Facebook post announcing the event.
“It was such a pleasant and special experience. We did not expect to see so many people turning up,” Yugasangkary shared with The Star, expressing her family’s intention to make this an annual tradition.
Similarly, 20-year-old cook Mohd Anas Sabri found solace in the festive ambiance of the open house, as work commitments kept him from returning home to Perlis for the holidays.
“Since I am in Johor for Hari Raya, I decided to check out the Mentri Besar’s open house and it turned out to be a lot more festive than I expected,” he remarked, citing the desire to avoid holiday traffic jams as another reason for staying in Johor.
The open house treated guests to a delectable array of food from over 30 stalls, adding to the festive cheer.
The event also attracted prominent figures, including members of the Johor Royal family like Tunku Temenggong Johor Tunku Idris Iskandar Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Panglima Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, and Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Ibni Sultan Ibrahim.
Additionally, state officials such as state executive councillors, State Secretary Tan Sri Dr Azmi Dr Rohani, and state assembly speaker Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi graced the occasion, enhancing its grandeur.
