Thousands Throng Padang Merdeka as Bella Astillah and Syed Saddiq Bring Kenduri Rakyat to Sabah
Kota Kinabalu, The Gulf Observer: About 10,000 people gathered at Padang Merdeka today for the Kenduri Rakyat of celebrity Bella Astillah and Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, the Daily Express reported.
Fans and well-wishers began queueing outside the venue as early as 8 a.m. Many of them wore traditional attire representing Sabah’s diverse ethnic groups.
Bella, whose real name is Dayang Ara Nabellah Awang Astillah, told the Sabah daily that guests had been encouraged, but not required, to come in traditional dress. She said guests were free to wear whatever they felt comfortable in, as the main aim was to celebrate the occasion together with fellow Sabahans.
She said she hoped the event would showcase pride in the state’s heritage, noting that Sabah is home to more than 70 ethnic groups. Members of her own family, she added, were dressed in traditional Kadayan, Kadazan and Bajau Sama attire.
The couple, popularly known as BASS, married at Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur on October 10. They then held a wedding reception at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) on October 18 and a Kenduri Rakyat in Muar on October 25, before bringing the celebrations to Sabah.
