Meeting a religious scholar and celebrating CNY

I was in Penang the last few days to attend a religious talk by a well known ulama (Islamic scholar) from Hadhramaut and to attend a multi-racial multi-religious Chinese New Year celebration.

The founder of Darul Musthofa Islamic School, in Tarim, Hadhramaut (Yemen), Al-Habib Umar bin Muhammad Bin Hafidz was in Malaysia and Singapore to deliver religious talks and to meet hundreds of his former students.

While in Malaysia, he visited Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang and Kedah.

In Penang, he gave talks at the Al-Munawar Mosque, in Kelawai Road and visited Kampung Syed in Burma Road (my kampung).

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and current PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi visited the Darul Musthofa during their official visits to Yemen.

The Chinese New Year celebration was held at the Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang (Caring Society Complex) at Jalan Utama (Western Road) and attended by Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Khoon. It was organised by the Majlis Pembangunan Wanita dan Keluarga (Women and Family Development Council), Bukit Bendera Parliamentary Constituency.

It was truly a multi-racial and multi-religious gathering and I had the opportunity to polish my Penang Hokkien. A couple from the Philippines and a Frenchman seated at my table were impressed with the racial harmony among Malaysians.