Buddhists Greets Pak Lah On Wesak's Eve

A Sinhalese dance troupe from Sri Lanka and a local Lion dance troupe waits patiently to greet the arrival of Malaysia's Fifth Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi at the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple at Brickfields. It was actually more or less a last minute decision by the Prime Minister to make an appearance as the Temple's program sheet for the week did not mention his coming at all for a High Tea sponsored by the Malaysian Buddhist Consultative Committee, which was scheduled to be held from 5.00pm to 7.00pm.

Pretty Lady! Yeah, yeah, I know. Hey look, this was one of the reasons I took up photography. Can ya blame a guy for tryin', huh?

Pak Lah's arrival at the Buddhist Maha Vihara was met by a scrum of reporters and photographers.

Pak Lah entering the temple flanked by Barisan Nasional leaders of Buddhist faith. Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon of Gerakan is right behind Pak Lah on the right, and partially hidden at the back, with forehead visible, is Datuk Wee Ka Siong of MCA. Pak Lah would be the second Malaysian Prime Minister since Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, to ever set foot on the grounds of the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple.

"I get more enthusiastic reception here than the last five UMNO meetings I've been to!" The arrival of Pak Lah at the temple was greeted with a riot of music and colors by the Sinhalese and Lion dance troupes.

"I'm tellin' ya, I get a coronary every time I hear the words transition plan and party crossovers, ya know what I'm sayin'?" Pak Lah accompanied by Chief Reverend Most Venerable K. Sri Dhammaratana of the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple.

Pak Lah and the VIPs together with senior Buddhist monks sitting at a table for a photo-op. At the foreground, in white 'tudung' with her back to the camera sits Nurul Izzah Anwar, Member of Parliament for Lembah Pantai. (Sorry I couldn't get a good photograph of you, Miss Nurul, but nobody tells me anything these days, ya know what I mean? Yeah, I know, ya not gettin' any respect at all...)

Wouldja look at this. Check out the earpiece on this guy. Malaysia's very own Secret Service! Someone oughta tell whoever's runnin' this outfit that pinnin' a yellow badge on the shirt collar is so... Austin Powers.

After shooting a couple of frames within the hall where Pak Lah and Chief Reverend Most Venerable K. Sri Dhammaratana was busy giving speeches, I decided to step out. This fellow from the Sinhalese dance troupe, direct from Sri Lanka, obliged me for a pose.

"I donno 'bout you, but hangin' round this guys kinda reminds me of orange juice. Gotta tell Jeanne to rustle up some for breakfast tomorrow..." Pak Lah says his goodbyes to the VIPs and senior Buddhist monks as he prepares to return back to Putrajaya. Malaysian citizens of Buddhist faith extend their appreciation and a heartfelt thank you to the Prime Minister for taking time to make a courtesy call to the Buddhist Maha Vihara and the community on the eve of Wesak Day.

I take this opportunity to wish Happy Wesak Day to my good friends Fox Fairy from Selayang, The Moon in Puchong, and Sabah Mari at Cheras. I also extend my greetings to readers of Buddhist faith who stumbled, by design or accident, upon my insignificant blog. And finally to all Malaysians of every faith under the sun, may you all be Well and Happy always.