A trip to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's official residence turned out rewarding for M Pathmanathan, who was declared the one millionth visitor and treated to breakfast today by the premier's wife.

Pathmanathan, named the one millionth visitor on Jan 10, had breakfast with First Lady Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali at Seri Perdana and received souvenirs including two books and a portrait, Bernama news agency said.

The managing animation firm director, who was accompanied by his family, described Siti Hasmah as down-to-earth and pleasant.

"I was shocked when named as the one millionth visitor to Seri Perdana despite visiting the prime minister's residence for several times earlier," he was quoted as saying.

The prime minister's huge residence in the government administrative capital of Putrajaya, south of Kuala Lumpur, receives some 1,000 visitors daily since it opened to the public in March 2000, Bernama said.

However it was temporarily closed in March due to renovation work and the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) in the region.

Mahathir has only four more months to enjoy his official residence before handing it over to his deputy and successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he steps down in October after 22 years at the helm. -AFP