MORE SPIN? Look who's here, three families elated with Najib's visit

SUNGAI SIPUT- It will be a Deepavali to remember and a historic moment for three Indian families in Kampung Ramasamy, Ladang Dovenby here after the nation's top leader visited their homes today.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was welcomed with flower garlands upon his arrival at the village at 4 pm, to the accompaniment of drumbeats by a group of Indian youths in traditional attire.

Najib, who is scheduled to attend the 2012 Malaysia Deepavali Open House at Ladang Infoternak later, was accompanied by Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, Minister in Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri G.Palanivel, who is also MIC president and Perak Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

At the three houses occupied by former rubber tappers S.Subramaniam, 84, and R.Suppammah, 75, and factory worker R. Loganathan, 39, and their families, Najib was warmly received with more flower garlands.

He spent about half an hour chatting with the families and later presented them with cash gifts.

The families also received household necessities and laptops for their school going children.

The Prime Minister then left in a decorated tractor for the open house at Ladang Infoternak, located about one kilometre from the village.

S. Nageswari, 37, Subramaniam's daughter-in-law, said her father-in-law, who is partially paralysed, was very excited when he first heard about Najib's visit.

"We're all very happy. No prime minister has ever been here. He (father-in-law) kept asking when the PM will be coming ever since we heard about it in October. His visit means a lot to us and we're grateful," she said.

Loganathan, who has been living here with his wife and three children for 30 years, described the visit as a historic moment for his family.

Meanwhile, Suppammah said her joy in living in a restored and newly painted house has been increased by the PM's Deepavali visit.

The senior citizen's old house was restored by the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) at a cost of RM5,000 under its 1Malaysia Care programme.

-Bernama