A group of cultural performers staged colourful Malaysian pageantry on Thursday night at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
The artistes, garbed in native Malay dress, performed folk music and dances in a three-and-a-half hour show that also featured Malaysian culinary delights.
In his address, Dato Syed Hussein Al Habshee, Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE, outlined efforts to further develop his country's booming tourism industry in the UAE.
"Malaysia is a diverse mixture of different communities living together in complete harmony. We have a rich amalgamation of Malays, Chinese and Indians. Malaysia wants to spread goodwill to all the people of the world... because we are truly Asia," said the batik-clad diplomat in his impassioned speech.
Malaysia, host to the world's tallest building (Petronas Towers), has risen from Asia's backwaters into becoming a major economic player in the region, which Ambassador Al Habshee credited to the brand of leadership of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed.
"But in this day and age, we need to work harder to bring the message of peace and harmony between different cultures," said Al Habshee.
The Dubai event was organised by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism, Malaysia, in conjunction with Just 311, an independent private group from Kuala Lumpur, and Marketing Pivot Free Zone LLC, its Dubai partner based in the Media City.
A Balle Balle cultural troupe member played the native instrument serunai to kick off the event, followed by renditions of other native Malay songs.
Wearing a hand-woven brocade, a "bride" and "groom" and other participants in a tableau re-enacting traditional Malay wedding ceremony invited members of the audience to join the entourage.
Some of the VIPs present included Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Banna, Assistant Director General for Studies and International Affairs of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mohammed Mustafa Abdul Aziz, Malaysian Consul General in Dubai with his wife Zuliah Mustafa, Syed Muhadzir Jamallulail, Director of Tourism Malaysia Dubai with his wife Zurainah Samat.
Malaysia is also promoting itself as an alternative educational destination for students in the UAE taking post-graduate courses through academic exchanges, said Al Habshee.
Gulf News
