Lim will not attend BN CNY open house

He is giving the event a miss as he needs to be at the airport to welcome Raja Permaisuri Agong who is on a private visit.

(Bernama) – GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he will not be able to attend the Penang Barisan Nasional’s Chinese New Year open house which will be held at the Han Chiang High School field here this morning.

Lim said could not make it as he had to welcome Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah at the Bayan Lepas International Airport at 11am.

He said Her Majesty is scheduled to attend the Chinese New Year open house of a friend.

“As the Chief Minister of Penang, I have to welcome the arrival of Her Majesty in Penang. I have informed Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak that I will not be able to attend the (BN’s) open house,” he told reporters after attending a Chinese New Year open house hosted by the Penang Chinese Assembly Halls at its premises here today.

The open house was also attended by Najib.

Among the other dignitaries present were Penang Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas and wife Toh Puan Majimor Shariff, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department Koh Tsu Koon and Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Minister of Tourism Dr Ng Yen Yen and Penang Chinese Assembly Hall chairman Lam Wu Chong.

Najib meanwhile arrived at 9.20am and was welcomed with a lion dance performance after which he shook hands and mingled with the guests who had eagerly awaited his arrival.

At the function, Najib was also entertained to various cultural performances of the Chinese community and presented a souvenir in the form of a replica of eight horses from the assembly.

Later, the prime minister will be joining some 80,000 people at the 1Malaysia Chinese New Year open organised by the Penang Barisan Nasional at the Han Chiang High School field here, the highlight of which will be a performance by South Korean singing sensation Psy.