KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet Hari Raya open house was an occasion they did not want to miss.

But Swedish couple Robert Pihlblad, 51, and his wife Christina Persson, 56, almost did for lack of information.

“We took a long taxi ride to the Prime Minister’s house in Putrajaya and found out that the open house was not there so we came here (Putra World Trade Centre),” said Pihlblad who is holidaying here.

Truly impress ed: Pihlblad and Persson talking about their wonderful experience in Malaysia.

“The open house is another unique Malaysian experience. It completes our wonderful memory of Malaysia.

“We met the Prime Minister and other ministers.

“We love everything. I want to come back and, if I can, stay here!,” said Persson before proceeding to enjoy the spread of local delicacies.

Turkish Ikbal Sen, who is here on business, said it was her second time at the open house.

“I first knew about it from a friend who used to live in Malaysia for 11 years. We came here together,” she said.

“Everyone made me very comfortable. There are lots of smiles and beautiful Malaysian dresses. I like Malaysian people,” said Ikbal who was in the VIP queue.

Felda settler Jamaludin Hassan, 57, and his wife Jamaiyah Shahimin, 52, turned up at the open house with 13 family members - all dressed in green.

Their son Mazlan Sam Jamaludin, 26, said that green was the family’s theme colour this year.

“Every year my whole family has a theme colour for Hari Raya. Last year, it was red and the year before that was purple,” he said.

He added that this was the first time they had decided to come to the open house as they could not balik kampung to his parents’ home in Pahang.

Marketing officer Manan Abd Sahidin, 50, and his wife brought their only child Mohd Nasri Manan, who suffers from hydrocephalus, a condition where brain fluid fills up and surrounds his brain and spinal cord , putting pressure on his brain tissues.

“He is mentally challenged. He can’t sit still for five minutes otherwise, he will be restless.

“He needs 24 hours’ supervision. But at least we are all together here for Hari Raya,” Manan said.

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