Najib causes a pleasant stir at Persiaran Gurney

People at Persiaran Gurney here received a pleasant surprise when they saw Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor walking about, greeting visitors and food stall owners in the area, earlier tonight.

Najib and Rosmah also savoured a few local delicacies such as satay, laksa, pasembur and young coconut water at the stalls there.

Najib had earlier walked over to the promenade from the nearby G Hotel after a Chinese New Year dinner with the Penang media.

Laksa stall owner, Rosni Mohd Yusof, who has been operating there for the past 10 years, said she was very proud because the Prime Minister and his wife chose to eat at her place.

"This is great. It's the first time a Prime Minister has eaten laksa here. I feel happy and proud," she told Bernama.

Satay seller Mohd Zairul Izwan Mohd Idrus said he got a shock when the Prime Minister suddenly appeared at his stall and took over the task of fanning the satay.

"He appeared suddenly, picked up the fan and started fanning the satay. I was stunned but happy and touched to see him so friendly,' he said.

Stephen Wong, 27, who saw the Prime Minister walking in front of Gurney Plaza said, "I took the opportunity to approach him and shook hands with him. He also wished me Gong Xi Fa Cai."

Selangor resident Kamariah Shamsudin, 45, who is holidaying in Penang for the Chinese New Year, said she was shocked with the sudden appearance of the Prime Minister in the area.

"My family and I feel so lucky for having seen the country's top leader at such close quarters. He was very cheerful and was shaking hands with everyone around him," she said.