Christians in the country celebrated Christmas today by attending prayers in churches, visiting relatives and friends and holding ‘open house’ for guests.
Many attended prayers in churches last night and also this morning and families sat for their meals together.
Shopping malls in the federal capital and other major cities in the country have been decorated with colourful lights and Christmas trees to add to the festive cheer.
Fine weather in the morning was a plus point as well. However, the weatherman has forecast rain in the evening and at night.
Major roads in Kuala Lumpur were almost free of traffic as many city folk have returned to their hometowns and villages, taking advantage of the public and school holidays. Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday yesterday and Christmas Day today are public holidays.
Shopping complexes and tourist attractions drew throngs of people, among them migrant workers on holiday.
In SARAWAK, Christians attended prayers at several churches in Kuching, among them St Joseph’s Cathedral and St Thomas’ Cathedral in Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg.
They also held open house for relatives and friends.
State Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Tasik Biru assemblyperson Peter Nansian Ngusie held open house at the Association of Research and Development Movement of Singai Sarawak (Redeems) centre in Kampung Apar, Bau, about 30km from Kuching.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and MP for Batang Sadong, Nancy Shukri, attended several Christmas open house in Simunjan, about 110km from Kuching.
In JOHOR, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim, extended Christmas Day greetings to all Christians, on his Facebook page.
“I wish Merry Christmas to Christians and hope that they celebrate the festival with joy with their beloved families and friends,” he said in the post.
Christians thronged several churches in the state capital for prayers.
These included the Holy Light Church and the Church of the Immaculate Conception in the city centre and the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Tebrau Presbyterian Church in Taman Sri Tebrau.
People also visited the shopping complexes and theme parks in the state capital.
In SABAH, about 2,000 people attended the open house of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) at the Hongkod Koisaan Hall of the Kadazandusun Murut Cultural Association in Penampang.
Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman and Federal Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Maximus Ongkili as well as several state ministers attended the open house.
Ongkili, who is PBS deputy president, said events such as the open house were important in celebrating the diversity that was Malaysia.
“All these reflect the wealth of Malaysia in terms of the diversity of the people, culture and religion and help to unite the people in the spirit of togetherness,” he said.
Christmas celebrated with joy in Malacca
In MALACCA, Christmas was celebrated with joy, particularly at the Portuguese Settlement, with the well-decorated state capital attracting tourists from elsewhere in the country and abroad.
Christians and foreign tourists attended prayers last night and this morning at several churches, many of them historic such as Christ Church and St Paul’s Church in Bandar Hilir, Church of St Francis Xavier in Jalan Banda Kaba and St Peter’s Church in Jalan Bendahara.
The roads were congested with traffic and shopping complexes and tourist attractions were crowded as people from other states took advantage of the holidays to visit the historical city.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is scheduled to launch the national-level Christmas 2015 open house in Bandar Hilir at 8pm on Sunday.
In PERAK, Christians attended prayers at several churches in Ipoh and other cities and held open house for their relatives and friends.
Many people took advantage of the public holiday to spend time with their families at shopping complexes and tourist resorts such as the Lost World Of Tambun.
In PENANG, thousands of Christians thronged the St George’s Church and the St Francis Church in Lebuh Farquhar, George Town, for prayers yesterday evening and early today.
The St George’s Church, the oldest church in Penang, was the focus of foreign tourists who photographed themselves outside and attended prayers within.
The City Light Church in Gat Lebuh Gereja distributed free food to about 1,000 poor people between 10am and 1.30pm today.
A check by Bernama found people taking advantage of the holiday to visit Batu Ferringhi, tourist attractions and shopping complexes.
Several days ago, Penang Police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi visited several churches in the state and gave the assurance of safety at the houses of worship as well as tourist attractions during the festive period.
In SELANGOR, the Church of Saint Anne in Port Klang ushered in the Christmas celebration today in a unique way by erecting a ‘live crib’ symbolising the birth of baby Jesus.
The church layman, Albert Arputhan, 33, claimed that the church is the only Catholic church in Klang to erect the crib to ensure that the congregation feels the actual atmosphere when Jesus was born in a stable more than 2,000 years ago.
“The church parish priest, Father Paulino Miranda, wanted to initiate something different this year by erecting the live crib. The crib was to give a deep insight to the congregation on how Jesus was born,” he told Bernama.
Earlier, at about 9am, some 800 people of the Christian faith gathered at the church for the Christmas mass.
- Bernama
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