KEPALA BATAS: Deep in her heart, 88-year-old Hasmah Kadir knew that she would meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday.

Hasmah, who was a close friend of Abdullah's late mother Datuk Kailan Hassan, got her granddaughter Norlela Ahmad, 43, to take her to the service centre of the Kepala Batas MP at 5pm.

Hasmah used to take orders from Abdullah's family to make ketupat, especially during Hari Raya.

“I knew Abdullah since he was a young boy. I'm just so happy that he could still recognise me,'' Hasmah said after meeting Abdullah, who had to leave for Kuala Lumpur immediately after the branch meeting.

Norlela said her grandmother had expressed her wish to meet Abdullah, as she had not seen him since he became Prime Minister.

“She wanted to see him because she told me she was getting old and may not get another chance to meet him in person,'' Norlela said.

Some 200 branch members attended the closed-door meeting.

Earlier, more than 350 people, including Umno and Gerakan leaders, turned up at the Royal Malaysia Air Force base in Butterworth to welcome Abdullah.

A red carpet was rolled out to greet Abdullah, who flew from Kuala Lumpur.

Among the VIPs present to receive Abdullah were Penang Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah, Kepala Batas deputy Umno chief Datuk Roslan Saidin, Penang Gerakan secretary Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, Batu Uban assemblyman Goh Kheng Sneah, Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Wong Mun Hoe, Bukit Tambun assemblyman Lai Chew Hock, and Penang CPO Datuk Christopher Wan.