Story by Amanda Khong
Some 600 people came to the Deepavali Open House in Taman Jajar, York Road, Penang on Nov 15. Exco member for Town and Country Planning and Housing and also assemblymember for Datuk Keramat, Jagdeep Singh Deo was there to officiate the open house.
Also present at the open house were Exco member for Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Phee Boon Poh, Exco member for Tourism Development and Culture Law Heng Kiang, assemblymember for Komtar Teh Lai Heng, assemblymember for Paya Terubong Yeoh Soon Hin, Penang Island City Council Councillors Ong Ah Teong and Mohamed Yusoff Mohamed Noor.
“I apologize for starting my speech on a sombre note but the Paris incident was devastating news. I would like to thank my Datuk Keramat team for organizing this open house. Deepavali is the festival of light and it is this light which will light up the dark times that we are going through now,” said Jagdeep during his opening speech.
All the guests who were able to stand were also asked to stand for a minute of silence to honour those in the Paris incident.
The open house had an all you can eat buffet and performances by a dance team. There was also 11 hampers for the invited homes as a donation in conjunction with Deepavali.
Jagdeep also prepared 140 sacks of rice and daily necessities to help the needy in the spirit of Deepavali. He added that he would like to thank the public because it is the public that he is who is he now.
Residents from several homes such as Chesire Home, Penang Home, Little Sisters of the Poor, Ramakrishna Ashrama and Eden Handicap Home were also among those who attended the open house.