(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Muslims throughout the country celebrated Aidilfitri Tuesday in a joyous atmosphere with family and friends.
They performed prayers at mosques and then hosted "open house" at home for their relatives and friends.
The celebrations were all the more merrier as Aidilfitri this year falls on the eve of the nation's 54th anniversary of independence, which has houses, shops and business premises flying the national flag.
Many Muslims here had returned to their hometowns and villages to celebrate the festival, but those who stayed back attended prayers in the city and held open house as well.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin performed Aidilfitri prayers at the National Mosque, along with 15,000 fellow Muslims. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, and several Cabinet ministers and foreign diplomats also performed prayers at the mosque.
The prayers were led by the grand imam of the mosque, Tan Sri Syaikh Ismail Muhammad and the "khutbah" (sermon) was delivered by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
After the prayers, members of the congregation shook hands with Tuanku Mizan, Najib and Muhyiddin.
Tuanku Mizan and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah then held open house at the Istana Negara.
In PERAK, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, performed Aidilfitri prayers along with more than 2,000 people at the Ubudiah Mosque in Kuala Kangsar.
The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah; the Raja Dihilir of Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa; members of the royal household and Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir also performed prayers at the mosque. Dr Zambry then held open house at the mentri besar's official residence in Ipoh.
In KUCHING, Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng performed Aidilfitri prayers at the Jamek Mosque in Petra Jaya, along with about 5,000 people.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Tourism and Heritage Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar were among the dignitaries who also performed prayers there.
Abang Muhammad Salahuddin hosted open house at the Astana in Petra Jaya while Taib and state cabinet ministers held open house at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.
In SELANGOR, more than 15,000 people joined the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, to perform Aidilfitri prayers at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque in Shah Alam.
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, State Secretary Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi and Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) Director Marzuki Hussin also performed prayers there. The prayers were led by Selangor Mufti Datuk Mohd Tamyes Abdul Wahid.
Abdul Khalid later held open house at the square of the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah building.
In MALACCA, Yang Dipertua Negri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob performed Aidilfitri prayers along with about 10,000 people at the Al Azim Bukit Palah Mosque in Malacca City.
Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, State Assembly Speaker Datuk Wira Othman Muhamad, senior state government officers and community leaders were among those who also performed prayers at the mosque.
After the prayers, Mohd Khalil and Mohd Ali hosted Aidilfitri open house at the Malacca International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh.
In TERENGGANU, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Ahmad Said and State Secretary Datuk Mazlan Ngah performed Aidilfitri prayers along with about 1,000 people at the Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Ladang Mosque in Kuala Terengganu.
After the prayers, Ahmad and Mazlan attended the Aidilfitri reception at Seri Iman in Batu Buruk.
In PENANG, Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas and his wife, Toh Puan Majimor Shariff, performed Aidilfitri prayers at the State Mosque in George Town.
Former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife, Tun Jeanne Abdullah, celebrated Aidilfitri in Abdullah's hometown in Kepala Batas
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