Aidilfitri celebrated with prayers, open house

Fine weather greeted Muslims in the country as they ushered in Aidilfitri by attending prayers at mosques and surau, holding 'open house' and visiting relatives and friends. The rain in isolated areas was welcomed as a divine blessing.

Many Muslims celebrated Aidilfitri in their hometowns and villages, having returned there over the past few days up to yesterday. They were also joined in the exodus by non-Muslims taking advantage of the long holiday.

Motorists found that their vehicles could devour more kilometres per litre, thanks to the drop in fuel prices over the past two weeks, with RON 95 now at RM1.91 per litre. Those hitting the road today had the advantage of benefiting from discounts in the toll rate.

The government had also helped the people celebrate Aidilfitri in a slightly bigger way. All civil servants received a special Aidilfitri allowance of RM500 earlier this month. Pensioners were not left out either; they received RM250.

The usual festive period price control scheme had enabled the prices of several essential goods to be kept at reasonable levels and more economical for the people.

In KUALA LUMPUR, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, performed Aidilfitri prayers at the Federal Territory Mosque, along with over 17,000 worshippers.

Also attending the prayers at the mosque were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Others included Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.

After the prayers, His Majesty attended an Aidilfitri feast at Istana Negara. Members of the royalty, Najib, Ahmad Zahid, Cabinet ministers and foreign diplomats also attended the reception.

In PUTRAJAYA, thousands of people from all walks of life attended the Aidilfitri open house hosted by Najib and Cabinet ministers at Seri Perdana, the official residence of the Prime Minister.

In PAHANG, the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, performed Aidilfitri prayers at Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah in Kuantan, along with over 4,000 worshippers.

Also attending the prayers were the Tengku Puan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and their children as well as Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and other state government leaders.

Tengku Abdullah gave away ‘duit raya’ (money in packets) to the people, including children, at the front of the mosque after the prayers. His Royal Highness also held open house at Istana Abdul Aziz in Indera Mahkota.

In KEDAH, the Raja Muda, Tunku Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, performed Aidilfitri prayers at Masjid Zahir in Alor Setar, along with about 2,000 worshippers.

Also attending the prayers were the Sultanah of Kedah, Tuanku Hajah Haminah, the Tunku Temenggong, Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'Adzam Shah, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah and state executive councillors.

In PAHANG, the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, performed Aidilfitri prayers at Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah in Kuantan, along with over 4,000 worshippers.

Also attending the prayers were the Tengku Puan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and their children as well as Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and other state government leaders.

Tengku Abdullah gave away ‘duit raya’ (money in packets) to the people, including children, at the front of the mosque after the prayers. His Royal Highness also held open house at Istana Abdul Aziz in Indera Mahkota.

In KEDAH, the Raja Muda, Tunku Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, performed Aidilfitri prayers at Masjid Zahir in Alor Setar, along with about 2,000 worshippers.

Also attending the prayers were the Sultanah of Kedah, Tuanku Hajah Haminah, the Tunku Temenggong, Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'Adzam Shah, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah and state executive councillors.

In MELAKA, Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron joined about 2,000 Muslims for the Aidilfitri prayers at Masjid Al-Azim in Bukit Palah here, led by the mosque’s head imam, Datuk Mohammad Hashim.

Later, Idris and the Exco members, together with senior state government officials were scheduled to visit Mohd Khalil's open house at Istana Melaka in Bukit Beruang.

In SARAWAK, Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud performed the Aidilfitri prayers with thousands of Muslims at Masjid Jamek, Petra Jaya near Kuching.

Also present were Abdul Taib's wife, Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and wife, Datin Amar Juma'ani Tun Tuanku Bujang and other dignitaries.

After performing Aidilfitri prayers, Abdul Taib and his wife hosted two open house sessions at the Astana Negeri Sarawak, from 10.30am to 12.30pm before resuming at 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

Abang Johari and his wife also held an open house at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) from 10am to 4pm.

In PERAK, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah performed Aidilfitri prayers together with about 2,000 people at Masjid Ubudiah in Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar. Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, state executive councillors and state dignitaries.

After prayers, the sultan visited the graves of his relatives including that of his father, Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah at the Royal Mausoleum next to Masjid Ubudiah.

Meanwhile, Zambry also held an open house at his official residence in Jalan Raja Dihilir in Ipoh from 2.30pm to 6pm.

In GEORGE TOWN, Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas and wife, Toh Puan Majimor Shariff today performed the Aidilfitri prayers at the Penang State Mosque along with State Secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus and state religious affairs, domestic trade and consumer affairs committee chairman Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kasim.

The Aidilfitri prayers were led by the main imam of the State Mosque, Salahuddin Ghozali. Following the prayers, the people also took the opportunity to shake hands with Abdul Rahman.

In KELANTAN, the Regent, Tengku Dr Muhammad Faiz Petra prayed at Masjid Muhammadi together with Tengku Temenggong Kelantan Datuk Tengku Muhammad Rizam Tengku Aziz, Tengku Laksamana Kelantan Tengku Abdul Halim Sultan Ibrahim, Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob and the state mufti, Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad.

He performed his Adilfitri prayers with about 5,000 people at the mosque and even shook hands with the congregation after the prayers.

Tengku Dr Muhammad Faiz then went to Istana Balai Besar here to celebrate Hari Raya with his people before heading to the Royal Mausoleum to visit the graves of the Kelantan royalty.

In TERENGGANU, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Sultanah Nur Zahirah and their son, Tuanku Muhammad Ismail performed their Aidilfitri prayers at Masjid Al-Muktafi Billah Shah, Ladang, accompanied by Tengku Sri Temenggong Raja Tengku Baharuddin Sultan Mahmud. Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman and State Secretary Datuk Wan Nawawi Wan Ismail.

After praying with about 5,000 people, he greeted them before heading to the Royal Mausoleum at the same mosque.

He then left for Istana Syarqiyyah about 9.30am to attend the Hari Raya Adilfitri audience with his relatives, state leaders and the people.

In SELANGOR, Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah performed the Adilfitri prayers at the Masjid Tengku Ampuan Jemaah, Bukit Jelutong.

Also present were Tengku Permaisuri Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and Raja Muda Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah besides Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The Aidilfitri prayers were recited by Selangor Mufti Datuk Mohd Tamyes Abd Wahid in the presence of about 5,000 people.

Meanwhile, 400 people, including 200 policemen attended an Aidilfitri open house at the Selangor police contingent headquarters hosted by Selangor police deputy chief, DCP Datuk Ab Rashid Ab Wahab.

In NEGERI SEMBILAN, about 15,000 locals attended the open house of Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir and Tunku Ampuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Aishah Rohani binti Almarhum Tengku Besar Mahmud at Istana Seri Menanti.

Earlier, Tuanku Muhriz had performed Aidilfitri prayers with about 2,000 people at Masjid Diraja Tuanku Munawir.

In JOHOR, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail and the sultan’s two other children, namely Tunku Idris and Tunku Abdul Rahman performed the Aidilfitri prayers with more than 2,000 Muslims at Masjid Pasir Pelangi, Johor Bahru early today.

The prayers were led by the mosque’s head imam, Hanif Naim and after the prayers, the Sultan spent time greeting the congregation.

The Aidilfitri celebration was enlivened by the open house held at Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin’s official residence, Saujana. The people started arriving as early as 9am and continued coming despite the heavy rain before noon.

The Sultan of Johor and his sons also went to the open house which was attended by state and government officials.

In Perlis, the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail performed prayers at Masjid Negeri Arau, with about 3,000 people led by Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs) chief executive officer, Mohd Nazim Mohd Noor.

Also present were Raja Perempuan of Perlis, Tuanku Tengku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid, Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail and Raja Puan Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Hajah Lailatul Shareen Akashah Khalil, Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man and state executive councillors.

The Dataran Majlis Istana Arau Adilfitri open house was held from 9.30am to noon.

In KOTA KINABALU, thousands of guests attended the Aidilfitri open house held by the Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah Tun Juhar Mahirudin and wife, Toh Puan Norlidah Datuk R. M. Jasni at Istana Negeri.

Also present were Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and wife, Datin Seri Faridah Tussin, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Sabah State Assembly Speaker Datuk Syed Abas Syed Ali and several state and federal Cabinet ministers.

– BERNAMA