Rain fails to dampen spirit of Aidiladha

Overcast skies and rain in several parts of the country did not prevent Muslims from turning out in large numbers at mosques and participating in the sacrificial slaughter of animals in conjunction with Aidiladha today. In the federal capital, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Hajah Haminah, joined about 15,000 Muslims for the Aidiladha prayers at the National Mosque. After the prayers and sermon, Their Majesties exchanged greetings with the congregation. In PUTRAJAYA, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali performed Aidiladha prayers at the Putra Mosque. The sacrificial slaughter of animals was conducted at the Precinct 16 car park, organised by the office of the Putrajaya MP. Forty-six cows were sacrificed. Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who is the Putrajaya MP, helped to distribute the meat to the people. A 'kenduri rakyat' (feast for the people) was held in Precinct 11. In SELANGOR, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, performed Aidiladha prayers at the State Mosque with about 10,000 Muslims. Also present was Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. Thirty-nine cows, two of which were donated by the sultan, were sacrificed in the compound of the mosque. The Meteorological Department had forecast rain in Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Penang and Selangor in the morning today and overcast skies in Perak, Perlis, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur. In PERLIS, rain in several parts of the state in the morning it did not prevent residents from thronging mosques for the Aidiladha prayers. The Perlis state government donated 140 cows in conjunction with Aidiladha this year to residents associations, government departments and non-governmental organisations for the sacrificial ritual. In PENANG, about 1,000 Muslims braved a heavy downpour to join the Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, and his wife, Toh Puan Majimor Shariff, for prayers at the State Mosque. The prayers were led by the mosque's Deputy Grand Imam, Sya'bani Awang, while the sermon was delivered by the Grand Imam, Sallahuddin Ghazali. In KEDAH, Kedah Council of Regency member Tan Sri Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah joined thousands of Muslims for Aidiladha prayers at the Zahir Mosque in Alor Setar. Also present was Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir. Rain was reported in several parts of the state in the morning. In SABAH, a sacrificial ceremony at the Tawau district police headquarters had to be postponed to tomorrow due to heavy rain. Tawau OCPD ACP Awang Besar Dullah told Bernama the sacrificial ritual was to have been carried out after the Aidiladha prayers at the compound of the police headquarters under a 'gotong-royong' (self-help) concept. In TERENGGANU, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said joined 2,000 Muslims for Aidiladha prayers at the Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Mosque in Kuala Terengganu. Fine weather facilitated the numerous sacrificial ceremonies held throughout the state. State Director of Veterinary Services Dr Marzuki Zakaria advised the people performing the sacrificial slaughter of animals to ensure cleanliness and adhere to regulations to prevent any outbreak of diseases. In KELANTAN, fine weather enabled the people to perform the sacrificial ritual throughout the state. The Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V, performed Aidiladha prayers with the people at the Muhammadi Mosque in Kota Baharu. The Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan, Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra, Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed also performed prayers at the mosque. In JOHOR, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, performed Aidiladha prayers at the Pasir Pelangi Mosque in Johor Baharu. The sultan's children and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin also performed prayers there. In PERAK, the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir joined more than 2,000 people for Aidiladha prayers at the Sultan Azlan Shah Mosque in Ipoh. Some 341 animals for sacrificial slaughter valued at RM1.02 million were donated by various agencies and statutory bodies in Perak for distribution to every state constituency. In PAHANG, the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah, accompanied by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, performed Aidiladha prayers with thousands of people at the Sultan Abu Bakar 1 State Mosque in Kuantan. Pekan Umno Religious Bureau chairman Datuk Ariffin Daud said 303 cows were distributed to mosques and surau in the Pekan parliamentary constituency for the sacrificial ritual. He also said that seven cows donated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would be sacrificed in the compound of the prime minister's residence in Pekan tomorrow. In NEGERI SEMBILAN, the Yang Dipertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, and the Tunku Ampuan Besar, Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud, performed Aidiladha prayers with about 1,000 people at the Tuanku Munawir Royal Mosque in Seri Menanti. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan performed Aidiladha prayers at the Rantau Jamek Mosque in his village in Rantau, Rembau, with about 1,000 people. In MELAKA, Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron joined about 7,000 people for Aidiladha prayers at the Al-Azim Mosque in Bukit Palah. Fourteen cows were sacrificed in the compound of the mosque, and Mohd Khalil distributed the meat to the people. In LABUAN, 40 cows were donated to the 27 villages and Muslim associations on the island for the sacrificial ritual. In SARAWAK, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud performed Aidiladha prayers at the Sarawak State Jamek Mosque in Petra Jaya. Several members of the state cabinet also attended prayers there, among them Housing and Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan as well as State Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar. A sacrificial ritual was also held at the First Division Penrissen Camp in Batu 8 near Kuching, attended by First Division Infantry commander Lt Gen Datuk Mohd Zaki Mokhtar. Meanwhile, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and wife Datin Seri Faridah Tussin celebrated Aidiladha in Sandakan. Musa, who is the state assemblyman for Sungai Sibuga, joined other Muslims and worshippers in performing Aidiladha prayers at the Sungai Kayu Mosque at Mile 7, Airport Road.