Spoilt for choice: Guests queuing up for food at Dr Hilmi’s open house in Balik Pulau.

The event, held on the first day of Hari Raya, saw people of all races tucking into delicacies like char koay teow, murtabak, cendol, chicken curry and popiah.

Dr Zambry said the response to the event was overwhelming.

“I did not expect to see so many people. My sincere apologies to the guests if the house is not big enough to cater to the crowd.

“Although the event was supposed to start at 3pm, the crowd, which was double that of last year, started to stream in an hour earlier,” he said.

Be a good girl: Dr Zambry teasing a girl who attended his Hari Raya open house at his official residence in Ipoh on Friday.

Warm hospitality: Dr Hilmi (in white), accompanied by Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhammad Farid Saad, chatting with his foreign guests (from left) Sutton, Walter Haller from Germany and Bridget Tayan from Britain.

Asked whether the overwhelming crowd meant the people had accepted his leadership, Dr Zambry replied: “Yes. It also shows the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is well received by the people.”

In Penang, the Hari Raya open house in Balik Pulau hosted by Teluk Bahang assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya was full of festive spirit.

He received over 3,000 well-wishers in just two hours.

Dr Hilmi said he had been holding Hari Raya open houses since 1991.

Also present was Penang Gerakan chief Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan.

The open house was a splendid example of 1Malaysia.

Seen enjoying a bowl of cendol was Nigel Sutton, 50, who said he moved to Malaysia 18 years ago from Britain to be with his wife, Tan Mew Hong, 46.

“I met her when we were studying in Ealing College Upper School.

“We got married and decided to make Malaysia our home. We have two children,” he said.

Busy, busy: Hawkers preparing popiah for the guests at Dr Zambry’s open house.

Fluent in Mandarin, he revealed that his command of Bahasa Malaysia was just ave-rage. But he smiled and proudly declared: “Saya cinta Malaysia!”

Abd Rahim Man, 48, brought his wife and two children to the open house at 11am.

“There was already a crowd when we came. We have been frequenting such open houses for over 10 years,” he said.

Sungai Ara resident Mike Foong, 45, brought along his son Reuben, 11, and daughter Regina, nine, as this was a good opportunity to mingle with other people and enjoy delicious food.