Second Week Of Iftar@KL 2017 Lures Interest Of International Tourists

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 (Bernama) -- The second week Iftar@KL2017 tonight attracted the interest of international tourists to take part in the sixth edition of the en masse breaking-of-the-fast in the centre of the city.

The programme, jointly organised by the National Culture and Arts Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department is held every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) during Ramadan in Jalan Raja and Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur.

Despite rain before the programme started at 6.30 pm, the public, including those who came with their families and friends, had started to throng the area around the road to book a place in the area provided (for the programme).

University of Hamburg biology student, Laura Schmidt, who is on a two-week visit to Malaysia, could not hide her excitement at having the chance to take part in such a large scale programme as a solo tourist.

"It is my first time joining this kind of programme after being informed about the event through my friends back at my (back-packers) hostel.

"I really love Malaysian food and the Iftar food like bubur lambuk´ (lambuk porridge) just now was delicious, " said the the 27-year old lass who donned a shawl when met by Bernama.

Likewise a tourist from Mexico City, Roberto Gomez, 20, and his elder sister Maria had come a long way from a Latin American country to see for themselves the practices during the month of Ramadan in Malaysia.

"Even though we are both Catholics, we still want to experience how Malaysian Muslims celebrate the month of Ramadan. We also did not want to miss out on the amazing and delicious iftar food, " said Gomez.

Earlier, the programme was enlivened with Ramadan religious lectures other than the recital of the Quran by hafiz (quran memorising) students.

Among the content highlighted at the Iftar@KL programme this year was the distribution of lambuk porridge, Islamic tourism exhibition, tithe counters and Ramadan discussions.

Last Sunday (June 4), the programme also attracted the interest of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, all of whom also broke their fast with the people.

-bernama.