KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 — Bella Astillah and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman will hold two public wedding receptions in Muar, Johor, and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, later this month as part of their wedding celebrations.

The couple announced the receptions today at the Walimatulurus Bella Astillah & Syed Saddiq press conference at the KLGCC Convention Centre, ahead of their solemnisation ceremony on October 10 at Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur.

The receptions, themed “Kenduri Rakyat” and open to members of the public, will take place in Muar on October 25, followed by a celebration in Kota Kinabalu on October 31.

Syed Saddiq said plans for the two public celebrations came together in less than two months, with the couple working around a tight schedule and the challenge of securing suitable venues.

“Our receptions will be themed ‘Kenduri Rakyat’, where members of the public are invited to attend.

“The concept will be like a ‘rewang’, where everyone can come together to celebrate.

“If the Hari Raya celebrations in Muar alone previously attracted up to 10,000 people, we expect even more people to attend our ‘kenduri’.

“So it will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Even if the food runs out, both of us will still be there to spend time with the guests who attend,” he said.

Bella, meanwhile, said the couple plans to prepare 10,000 special souvenirs for guests attending the two “Kenduri Rakyat” receptions.

She also clarified that the Sabah celebration will be held in Kota Kinabalu rather than Sandakan, where she was born.

Bella, whose full name is Dayang Ara Nabellah Awang Astillah, said she was looking forward to celebrating in Sabah and wanted to clear up confusion over the venue.

“I am really happy to be holding the celebration in Sabah because I was born there, in Sandakan.

“Many people misunderstood and thought I would hold the reception in Sandakan, so I want to take this opportunity to clarify that it will be held in Kota Kinabalu.

“I really cannot wait. We also want to prepare souvenirs, depending on what we can afford, so I am really looking forward to it,” she said.