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November 30, 2009 16:14 PM
1Malaysia Specially Flown To Zagreb
By Rohana Mustaffa
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 (Bernama) -- The people of Croatia recently had the opportunity to learn of the 1Malaysia concept through a special Malaysian food and cultural promotion at the nation's capital, Zagreb.
The concept espoused by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was chosen as the theme for a festival of food and culture organised by the Malaysian Embassy in Zagreb to show how Malaysia's different racial groups are united through the understanding of each other's culture.
With the theme "1Malaysia Festival 2009, Zagreb", the celebration from Nov 9 to Nov 15 was mainly held at the Fountain Restaurant, Sheraton Zagreb Hotel.
The event featured a wide variety of Malaysian food, batik fashion shows, batik drawing demonstrations and colourful traditional dances of various ethnic groups in Malaysia.
According to a statement by the Malaysian Embassy in Zagreb, the traditional dances received thunderous applause from the shoppers at the popular and well patronised Avenue Mall, in Zagreb on Nov 13.
There was also a batik painting demonstration while the unique and dynamic art of teh tarik also captivated shoppers at the Mall. Hundreds were then given the opportunity to a sample the unique teh tarik.
The master of ceremonies Datuk Mahadzir Lokman, Malaysian Batik personality Kartini Illias, two acclaimed Malaysian chefs and a popular Malaysian cultural troupe the Sri Bulan Dance Troupe were flown in especially for the occasion to ensure the offerings to the Croatian public is authentically Malaysian.
FIRST TIME
According to the embassy, this was the first time that an event of such scale was staged in Zagreb to expose exotic Malaysian culture.
From the first day, the festival received wide media coverage and this helped to create greater awareness and interest among the Croatian public on the fiesta in particular and assembled many Malaysian living in the country.
Malaysian Ambassador to Croatia Aminahtun Karim Shaharudin was interviewed on the festival by popular local television channels and radio stations - Nova TV and Otvoreni TV, Narodni Radio, Radio Slijeme and Zagreb Tourist Board.
Kartini and Sri Bulan Dance Troupe were guests on the programme "Dobro Jutro, Hvartska" (Good Morning, Croatia) while local Croatian magazines and newspapers also extensively covered the 1Malaysia Festival.
PRAISES FROM THE PRESIDENT
Even the Croatian President Stjepan Mesic highly praised the 1Malaysia Festival and expressed his support for the Malaysian Embassy's effort to bring Malaysia closer to Croatians.
"I still remember my visit to Malaysia a few years ago.
"Everything I saw and heard impressed me very much and I do believe that Malaysia should be one of our main partners in South East Asia," he was quoted as saying.
In his speech the president reiterated that Croatia is a European country and accession into the European Union certainly is a priority in the nation's foreign policy.
"However, we certainly seek good relations with all of those who are in favour of having such relations with us, regardless of which part of the world they are in. This of course includes Malaysia as well," he said.
He noted that the 1Malaysia Festival provided the Croatians an opportunity to learn as much as possible about "this interesting and important country and about its desire to act as one."
THANK YOU FROM MALAYSIA
Aminahtun said the Malaysian Embassy was very grateful for the support given to them as it augurs well for Malaysia-Croatia relations.
She also expressed her appreciation on the cooperation and partnership given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia Airlines, Tourism Malaysia, Ministry of Information Communication and Culture, Croation Airlines and the various organisations and agencies in making the event a success.
The main rationale for organising the festival was to bring Malaysia and Croatia closer together and to help further strengthen relations between the two countries, she added.
A Croatian, Zrinka Skarica, who has lived in Malaysia, was given an opportunity during the festival to speak on her impressions of Malaysia and a book she has written about her stay in Malaysia called "Malaysia - My Unforgettable Story".
Skarica has delivered more than 20 talks all over Croatia to tell the locals more about the colourful Malaysia.
Diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Croatia was established in 1992 and an embassy was set up in Zagreb in 1994.
The republic of Croatia in turn established an embassy in Kuala Lumpur in 1995.
-- BERNAMA
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