KOTA KINABALU: There will be no Hari Raya open house hosted by Sabah government this year, instead a reception with invited guests will be held instead.

       Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on Wednesday (Apr 27) said this was agreed upon by the state cabinet, where the event would be held for about 1,000 invited guests on May 7 at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC).

       "Among those being invited to the 'Majlis Ramah Mesra Aidilfitri' reception are opposition leaders.

       "Similarly, the Istana Negeri is not going to hold an open house, but only a reception for 100 invited guests or so," said Hajiji.

       He said this in a statement issued after the breaking of fast with the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) secretariat at his Sri Gaya official residence here.

       Hajiji noted the downward trend of daily new Covid-19 cases in Sabah as heartening, while expressing hope that the virus would be completely gone soon.