Nuraina A. Samad reporting from Paris

PARIS, Mon: It was an eventful time for many Malaysians in Paris when they joined Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor at the 1Malaysia hari raya open house at Pavillon Davphine here yesterday.

The open house, attended by Malaysian students from across France, was also to welcome Najib and Rosmah who is on a four-day official visit to France.

An added bonus for most of the Malaysians was the presence of actress Datuk Michelle Yeoh who turned up with her fiance, Datuk Seri Jean Todd.

She tried, in vain, to be as inconspicuous as possible but the occasion was abuzz that she was around. So, while the Prime Minister, Rosmah and their entourage sat for dinner, Yeoh was graciously obliging excited guests in impromptu photo sessions.

The actress, looking elegant in a black outfit, said she had come to Paris from Kuala Lumpur for the 1Malaysia open house.

She is all for 1Malaysia because she believes that Malaysians live harmoniously as one big family.

"Culturally, we have our own beliefs. But in a successful nation, we have to embrace all the differences, at the same time we share the common goals that we want for our nation to prosper. It is so obvious that we love our country.

"Why do I still keep coming back (to Malaysia). As far as I'm concerned, Malaysia is my country. I have a Malaysian passport and I will never let go of that," she remarked.

Yeoh, who has starred in several Hollywood movies including Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and The Geisha, was in Kuala Lumpur to endorse the government's road safety campaign. -New Straits Times