Large turnout at Diwali Open House near Klang

A large crowd has turned up at a Diwali Open House at a school in Kampung Jawa near Klang tonight. 
 
Najib and Rosmah are reportedly expected to turn up.

An eye-witness reports that over a hundred buses or more have brought in many from near and far for the celebration. (Eh? When was Diwali?) “It appears to have been a large mobilisation. The area is jam-packed with people and I can’t even enter the place to see what’s happening.”

He estimates the turnout at 30000.

Rais Yatim is addressing the crowd now (9.24pm). He is followed by MIC president G Palanivel and later Najib. Koh Tsu Koon is seated at the same table as the premier, according to the eye-witness. The official estimate of the turnout is 24000.

Najib speaks about the budget and economic transformation, but the response from the crowd seems “poor”, says the eye-witness. “I have never seen such a cool reaction to a political speech. The crowd just continued eating and when they had finished many trooped back to the buses. Some even packed food to take back home.”

An exhibition on aid to the poor was also held.

The Open House is being held amidst heightened speculation that a general election could be held within the next few months.