TASEK GELUGOR, Feb 18 — For the first time ever, Masjid Jamek Tasek Gelugor here has taken an initiative to organise Chinese New Year celebration in its compound.

Chairman of the mosque, Khairul Anuar Musa said the event was organised, among others, to make the public aware that the mosque was not only a place for Muslims, but also to people of other faiths.

"We have been planning the event since last month and last Feb 11, the mosque committee started to send invitation to the Chinese community living around the mosque. We also received a positive feedback (from the Chinese), some of them even wanted to contribute for the event.

"Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), the Chinese community came with the spirit of goodwill,” he said after the event which was held after the Asar prayer at the mosque compound today.

About 100 Chinese attended the event and they were served with a variety of food.

A Chinese Muslim who attended the event Ooi Chooi Beng, 36, said before embracing Islam, he always thought that a mosque was only for Muslims and did not dare to come close to it.

"Alhamdulillah, after I converted to Islam about six months ago, I learned a lot about the functions of a mosque and I also hope that today’s programme will be a starting point for other programmes (to be held in the future)for us to seek Allah’s blessings,” said Ooi who also brought his Buddhist parents to the event.

For Tan Chooi Tit, 51, he and his family were touch by the invitation from the mosque committee to its Chinese New Year celebration .

He said the initiative taken by Masjid Jamek Tasek Gelugor was something that should be lauded as it conveyed a positive message to the multiracial community in the country.  — Bernama