PENANG: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and two DAP exco members attended the state-level Maulidur Rasul celebrations at the Seberang Jaya expo site here yesterday. He said he was glad he was able to attend the function, which was attended by about 3,000 Muslims. “I understand this is the first time a Penang Chief Minister is attending this celebration,” he told reporters covering the event. Lim said he had sought advice from Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, state Mufti Datuk Hassan Ahmad, PAS and PKR leaders on his attendance and was told he could do so.
He said he was willing to attend other religious festivals if invited, noting that the state government respected all religions. 
Besides Lim and Mohammad Fairus, the exco members were Lim Hock Seng and Phee Boon Poh.
The event was opened by Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas. Also present was his consort Toh Puan Majimor Shariff and state secretary Datuk Jamaluddin Hasan.
Mohammad Fairus, in his speech, said Muslims here should forge stronger ties with the other races to help push the state towards social and economic excellence.
Earlier, Mohammad Fairus led about 2,000 Muslims in a 2km-long procession from the Seberang Jaya mosque to the venue.
Abdul Rahman later presented the state Tokoh Maulidur Rasul 2008 award to former teacher Said Shaaban, 63, the imam of Masjid Kampung Baru, Tasek Gelugor.
In George Town, more than 2,000 Muslims took part in a 3km procession, which started and ended at Kapitan Keling Mosque, to mark the occasion last evening.
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