ABDULLAH KICKS OFF RAYA CELEBRATIONS WITH KING

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi and wife Jeanne Abdullah kicked off their Hari Raya Aidilfitri
celebrations with an audience with King Tuanku Mizan Zainal
Abidin and Queen Tuanku Nur Zahirah at Istana Negara early Wednesday
morning.

The King, Queen, Abdullah and Jeanne,accompanied by Deputy Prime
Minister Najib Tun Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor and Muslim Cabinet Ministers,
then proceeded to the National Mosque for Aidilfitri prayers.

The entourage then returned to National Palace (Istana Negara), only to be
joined by ambassadors and high commissioners to begin the celebrations proper.
Also present were former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and wife Dr Siti
Hasmah Mohd Ali.

The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and their
wives then departed to the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) to host the Hari Raya
open house.

The Hari Raya open house is open to diplomats and VIP guests from 11am to
12.30pm, before doors opened to public at 12.30pm and will run up to
4.30pm.

Abdullah started the tradition of holding the joint Hari Raya open house
with Cabinet Ministers four years ago and since then, it has become a mainstay
and an opportunity for Malaysians of all walks of life as well as foreigners,
including tourists, to meet the nation's leaders.

Visitors were treated to various dishes, prepared by 45 chefs at five main
halls -- Dewan Merdeka, Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, Dewan Tun Dr Ismail, Dewan Tun
Razak 3 and Dewan Tun Razak 4 -- of the PWTC.

About 200,000 visitors are expected to throng the open house with 150
security personnel being deployed for crowd control.