[hang nadim] Christmas celebrated on a moderate scale...

KUALA LUMPUR: Christians throughout the country celebrated Christmas today on a moderate scale but in a lively manner.
As usual, during each festive season, the shopping complexes and
entertainment centres would be the centre of attraction for members of the
public to bring their family to spend their public holiday.

For the Christians, they will go to the church for the morning mass before
holding open houses and receiving relatives and friends in conjunction with the

Christmas celebration.

In the city centre, Christians flocked to the St. John’s Cathedral in Bukit

Nanas for the Christmas mass.

A check by Bernama revealed that Christians began to arrive at the church as
early as 7am where most of the congregation were foreigners and tourists who
went to the church with their family and friends.


In SELANGOR, Christmas was celebrated on a moderate scale with many flocking
to churches around Klang to attend the morning mass at 9am.

As in the other places, the celebration was also felt by other members of
the community who attended the open houses held by their Christian friends until
noon.

A popular tourist attraction in the city, the I-City was also lively last
night as the various communities in the Klang Valley also grabbed the
opportunity to share the gaiety of the celebration.

In PENANG, the good weather that had persisted for the past few days enabled
Christians in the state to celebrate the occasion in moderate but lively manner.

The oldest church in the state, the St George Anglican Church at Jalan
Farquhar drew the Christians in Penang to join the Christmas mass since last
night until this morning.

In MELAKA, the atmosphere at the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir, here
was lively since last night with houses being decorated to usher in the
Christmas.

The celebration was made more lively with visits to Christian houses by
friends and family members.

In PERLIS, the joyous occasion was also celebrated on a moderate scale as
the state does not have a large Christian population.

Several churches in Kangar were full of people of Christian faith and the
fine weather enabled the people to celebrate the Christmas in a lively manner.

In NEGERI SEMBILAN, Christmas was also celebrated on a moderate scale with
Christians flocking to the churches to attend the Christmas mass.

At the Church of Visitation, the mass was conducted in the Malay language
beginning at 11am and about 100 Christians of various races attended it.

In SABAH, the Christmas celebration was in full swing although many
Christians had returned to their hometowns.

Among the leaders who held the open house was Sabah Deputy Chief Minister
Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan at the Dewan Hongkod Koisaan, Penampang, near
here.

Head of State Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah, State Local Government and Housing
Minister Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor, who represented the chief minister, several
state ministers and Barisan National component party leaders were among the
2,000 people, including foreign tourists, who turned up to greet him.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok also
held a Christmas open house at the Sabah Cultural Centre, Penampang. - Bernama

Read more: Christmas celebrated on a moderate scale http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Christmascelebratedonamoderatescale/Article/#ixzz19GEylVGW

Rumah Terbuka Krismas meriah












Tun Mohd. Khalil Yaakob bersama Rais Yatim dan Mohd. Ali Rustam turut serta memeriahkan Joget Ria 1Malaysia di Kampung Portugis, Melaka, semalam.

MELAKA 26 Dis. - Majlis Rumah Terbuka Malaysia Krismas 2010 di Perkampungan Portugis, Ujong Pasir di sini, malam ini disambut meriah dengan dihadiri lebih 10,000 orang pengunjung.

Orang ramai berbilang kaum dan agama serta pelancong asing mula mengunjungi Perkampungan Portugis yang tertua di Malaysia itu sejak pukul 6 petang bagi menyaksikan pelbagai persembahan menarik pada majlis yang bertemakan 'Jalinan Kemesraan Pemimpin dan Masyarakat'.

Yang Dipertua Negeri Melaka, Tun Mohd. Khalil Yaakob hadir merasmikan majlis itu yang turut dihadiri isterinya Toh Puan Zurina Kassim; Ketua Menteri Melaka, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam; dan Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim.

Mohd. Khalil yang tiba pukul 8.30 malam kemudian diiringi oleh Mohd. Ali dan Rais serta tetamu kehormat lain, mengadakan lawatan Krismas ke beberapa buah rumah penduduk di perkampungan yang terletak di pinggir Selat Melaka.

Suasana meriah bermandikan cahaya lampu pelbagai warna bertambah indah dengan hiasan pokok krismas, santa claus dan santarina, kotak hadiah, snow man dan banyak lagi.

Perkampungan seluas 11.2 hektar yang diasaskan pada 1930 dan kini diketuai Peter Thomas Gomes, mempunyai kira-kira 1,200 penduduk berbangsa Portugis yang mendiami 118 buah rumah, dan ini merupakan kali kedua perkampungan itu dipilih sebagai tuan rumah sambutan berkenaan selepas kali pertama pada 2008.

Rais dalam ucapannya pada majlis itu berkata, penganjuran majlis rumah terbuka dapat memperkukuh perpaduan rakyat berbilang bangsa dengan semangat Gagasan 1Malaysia.

Beliau berkata, kerajaan sentiasa bersama dan mendekati rakyat setiap masa menerusi pelbagai program termasuk melalui pendekatan mesra budaya.

Rais seterusnya mengumumkan peruntukan Kerajaan Persekutuan RM480,000 kepada Perkampungan Portugis itu bagi membaiki rumah ibadat di kawasan berkenaan.

Majlis itu turut diserikan dengan persembahan kebudayaan dan kesenian termasuk nyanyian oleh artis tempatan.

Acara kemuncak ialah tarian Joget 1Malaysia yang disertai oleh pengunjung yang dicatatkan dalam Malaysia Book of Records sebagai acara paling ramai peserta untuk satu-satu persembahan joget. - BERNAMA