KUALA LUMPUR: Pop queen Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, rock legend Datuk Ramli Sarip, and veteran pop singer Ramlah Ram brought lots of Raya cheer to about 900 people at Media Prima Bhd's (MPB) Hari Raya Open House today.
The open house held at the driveway of Balai Berita in Jalan Riong, Bangsar here saw Siti serenade MPB staff with her best-known Hari Raya song Sesuci Lebaran, and some sporting employees of the company even joined her in singing some lines of the song on stage.
"The MPB Open House is an event that I always look forward to, and even though I have not been able to make it here annually, nothing beats sharing the stage with talented entertainment writers who have helped me in my journey all these years," she said.
Ramli, who had guests sing along to two of his best-known songs Teratai and Doa Buat Kekasih, said that the MPB Open House was one of his all-time favourites, since some of his staunchest fans worked in Balai Berita and he had visited the company for countless interviews over the years.
"I want to thank everyone in MPB for their love and support over the years. It is always a joy to share my music with you," he said.
Ramlah, who performed her Raya hit song Cahaya Aidilfitri, said she was happy that many MPB staff remembered her evergreen song and readily helped her complete whole verses.
"Hari Raya is my favourite time of the year and sharing the festive joy with Balai Berita is always a treat for me," she said, adding that she had many fond memories at its studio.
The event, which also featured performances by Elly Mazlein and Haziq Rosebi, saw the artistes paying tribute to the late pop legend Datuk Hail Amir who died at the age of 76 yesterday by performing his hit duet with Uji Rashid, Seloka Hari Raya.
"We will all miss Datuk Hail, but his timeless song which is popular in every Hari Raya will be an evergreen number that Malaysians will always love to sing," said Siti.
The event was also enlivened by TV3 personalities, Ally Iskandar and Diana, who served as hosts for the various proceedings which included a lucky draw and performances by the MPB staff representing their respective departments.
The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad (NSTP) Group Managing Editor, Datuk Ahmad Zaini Kamaruzzaman and New Straits Times (NST) Group Editor, Farrah Naz Karim also participated in the presentation representing NSTP.
Also present were Media Prima Group Managing Director Rafiq Razali, Media Prima Group Chief Financial Officer Rosli Sabarudin, Media Prima Television Networks and Primeworks Studios CEO Nini Yusof, Media Prima Audio CEO Nazri Noran, Big Tree Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Wong, Media Prima Omnia, Direct Sales Chief Operating Officer Datuk Mohd Efendi Omar and MPB Group Chief Marketing Officer Amir Rasyidi Johari.
Aside from Balai Berita Bangsar, the MPB Hari Raya Open House celebration for its staff was also held earlier at Sri Pentas in Bandar Utama.