KUALA LUMPUR: More than 10,000 city dwellers converged on Dataran Merdeka to break fast al-fresco with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday.
Joining Najib, his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and the city folks were Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, and Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.
Clad in a red baju Melayu top, black trousers and songkok, Najib took time out to enjoy the casual atmosphere with the public, and joined in to stir a pot of bubur lambuk, which was later packed and distributed to those present.
Everyone later sat on the rubber mats rolled out along Jalan Raja as they waited for maghrib azan from the nearby mosques, to break fast.
After enjoying a light meal, the crowd made their way to the field in the square to perform the maghrib prayer, led by an imam from Mecca, Syed Mohd Idris Al-Masyrafi.
Najib’s presence was part of “Iftar@KL 2017”, which takes place every weekend until June 18.
“We are targeting some 100,000 visitors for the whole programme. I am confident we will reach that number,” Mas Ermieyati said.
She also welcomed other states to emulate the event, saying that Pahang has also done the same.
Iftar@KL is a programme organised by the National Culture and Arts Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia.
Other activities carried out throughout the programme include distribution of bubur lambuk, Quran recitation, Ramadan lectures, Quran classes, zakat payment services and nasyid performances.
Popular nasyid groups taking part in Iftar@KL include Hijjaz, UNIC and Raihan, while Ramadan lectures were delivered by Datuk Ustazah Nor Bayah Kadir, Ustaz Wan Akashah Wan Abdul Hamid, Datuk Dr Mohd Fadzilah Kamsah, and Ustaz Haslin Baharin.
Among the participants in the activities were students from various tahfiz schools in around the Klang Valley.
Visitors can also perform the terawih prayers together on the field, after which they will enjoy moreh (night feast).
There were also more than over 20 food trucks there to add variety to the breaking of fast feasts.