ID :
81869
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 23:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/81869
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIANS ENJOY ABU DHABI AIDILFITRI BASH
By Muin Abdul Majid
DUBAI, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysians from across the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) flocked to the Malaysian embassy in Abu Dhabi Friday for the Aidilfitri
open house and to celebrate Malaysia's 52nd National Day.
It was a well-attended affair which began at 5pm (local time), with
tantalising Malaysian dishes proving to be a hit among those present.
At the start of the event, they joined ambassador Datuk Yahaya Abdul Jabar
in offering the "doa selamat" (special prayer) for the well-being of the
country.
The crowd also gave a spirited rendition of the "Negaraku", Malaysia's
national anthem, which accompanied the flag-hoisting ceremony.
Faizel Abdul Malik, who had gone back to his hometown in Melaka for the past
two years for Aidilfitri, acknowledged that celebrating Aidilfitri here was
quite a different experience.
"I guess that you may feel a little bit sad to miss out on all the raya fun
and tradition back home, but you make up for it by being with friends and family
members who are here," said the technical and planning engineer with an Abu
Dhabi-based Malaysian construction firm.
And Faizel may get to spend Aidilfitri in Malaysia in the years to come as
he and his wife and child were in the midst of packing up their bags to go back
to Malaysia for good soon.
Joining in the merriment at the Malaysian mission was Chin Iun Jing, a chef
who has been working in Abu Dhabi for the past two months.
"It's good to be here to meet fellow Malaysians and of course enjoy the
food," said the Chinese cuisine expert who had previously worked in places like
Ireland, New Zealand as well as on board a cruise liner.
Chinese national Dilnur Alim spent three years studying and working in
Malaysia, and insisted that her Malaysian friends brought her to the embassy
open house to relive her memories of spending Aidilfitri in the Southeast Asian
nation.
Originally from China's northwest region of Xinjiang, she told Bernama that
celebrating Aidilfitri Malaysian-style was such an exciting experience, with
people throwing open their doors to friends and foreigners alike.
"And I love it when they play the evergreen raya songs as I feel like I'm
still in Malaysia," she said.
Clearly elated with the large turnout, Malaysian envoy Yahaya said he was
heartened to see Malaysians of all creeds and races coming together to celebrate
Aidilfitri and national day in a genuine spirit of camaraderie.
"We may have some issues to resolve back home but as far as the Malaysian
community in the UAE is concerned, I feel that the spirit of friendship and
togetherness is still very much alive," he said.
The ambassador also lauded Malaysians who had continued the open house
tradition in this Gulf state, saying that this had allowed fellow Malaysians to
savour a slice of the Malaysian Aidilfitri experience in the desert sands of the
UAE.
-- BERNAMA
DUBAI, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysians from across the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) flocked to the Malaysian embassy in Abu Dhabi Friday for the Aidilfitri
open house and to celebrate Malaysia's 52nd National Day.
It was a well-attended affair which began at 5pm (local time), with
tantalising Malaysian dishes proving to be a hit among those present.
At the start of the event, they joined ambassador Datuk Yahaya Abdul Jabar
in offering the "doa selamat" (special prayer) for the well-being of the
country.
The crowd also gave a spirited rendition of the "Negaraku", Malaysia's
national anthem, which accompanied the flag-hoisting ceremony.
Faizel Abdul Malik, who had gone back to his hometown in Melaka for the past
two years for Aidilfitri, acknowledged that celebrating Aidilfitri here was
quite a different experience.
"I guess that you may feel a little bit sad to miss out on all the raya fun
and tradition back home, but you make up for it by being with friends and family
members who are here," said the technical and planning engineer with an Abu
Dhabi-based Malaysian construction firm.
And Faizel may get to spend Aidilfitri in Malaysia in the years to come as
he and his wife and child were in the midst of packing up their bags to go back
to Malaysia for good soon.
Joining in the merriment at the Malaysian mission was Chin Iun Jing, a chef
who has been working in Abu Dhabi for the past two months.
"It's good to be here to meet fellow Malaysians and of course enjoy the
food," said the Chinese cuisine expert who had previously worked in places like
Ireland, New Zealand as well as on board a cruise liner.
Chinese national Dilnur Alim spent three years studying and working in
Malaysia, and insisted that her Malaysian friends brought her to the embassy
open house to relive her memories of spending Aidilfitri in the Southeast Asian
nation.
Originally from China's northwest region of Xinjiang, she told Bernama that
celebrating Aidilfitri Malaysian-style was such an exciting experience, with
people throwing open their doors to friends and foreigners alike.
"And I love it when they play the evergreen raya songs as I feel like I'm
still in Malaysia," she said.
Clearly elated with the large turnout, Malaysian envoy Yahaya said he was
heartened to see Malaysians of all creeds and races coming together to celebrate
Aidilfitri and national day in a genuine spirit of camaraderie.
"We may have some issues to resolve back home but as far as the Malaysian
community in the UAE is concerned, I feel that the spirit of friendship and
togetherness is still very much alive," he said.
The ambassador also lauded Malaysians who had continued the open house
tradition in this Gulf state, saying that this had allowed fellow Malaysians to
savour a slice of the Malaysian Aidilfitri experience in the desert sands of the
UAE.
-- BERNAMA
