GOMBAK – What began as an ordinary day at Zoo Negara turned into an unforgettable surprise for visitors when the Giant Panda Conservation Centre was officially opened to the public following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s first visit to its star residents – giant pandas Chen Xing and Xiao Yue from China.

Families who had come for a casual outing on Jan 10 suddenly found themselves witnessing a milestone moment, with the long-awaited panda enclosure finally welcoming the public.

Engineer Mohd Fairus Abdullah, 44, from Puchong, said he had no idea the centre would open when he brought his children to the zoo for the first time.

“It was completely by chance. We came to visit the zoo and then realised that the Prime Minister was here. Then we learnt that the Panda Centre had been opened to the public,” he said.

“It was very exciting. Seeing pandas brought all the way from China made the visit enjoyable, especially for my children,” he added.

For 39-year-old Kubenthra Jayaraman, a procurement executive from Kuala Lumpur, the unexpected opening turned his family’s annual zoo tradition into a magical moment for his four-year-old daughter.

“We’ve been visiting the zoo every year for the past three years as part of a family outing since my wife and daughter share the same birthday month,” he said.

“We didn’t know the Panda Centre was open yet, so it was a very exciting surprise when we arrived and got to see them.”

He described the arrival of the pandas as a positive step by the government to boost tourism.

“It’s a good initiative. Having pandas here attracts more visitors and gives people another reason to come to Malaysia,” he said.

Contractor Tung Boon Hua, 36, from Kuala Lumpur, also found himself pleasantly surprised during his visit.

“I didn’t get to see the previous panda...