Bismillah hir Rahman NiRahim…
Culture is the shared knowledge and schemes created by a set of people for perceiving, interpreting, expressing, and responding to the social realities around them.
Kalai Vanikam, Choo San, Xao An, Selamat Pagi and lastly not least A very good morning…
Honourable Deputy Lord Mayor City of Melbourne, Susan Riley, The Right Honourable Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. I also wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land.
As a Malaysian and Consul General representing the Malaysian Government here today, I feel honoured, blessed and very proud to see our beloved Nation’s penultimate strength being show cased in the international scene, and more importantly in this most liveable city in the world.
I can sincerely say that the strength of a Nation is not in its material infrastructure which we are blessed to have in Malaysia. We are also very blessed to have a rich, colourful, multicultural diversity which has developed over many centuries due to Malaysia’s strategic geographical location in the middle of ancient trade routes.
To me, Malaysia’s rich multicultural diversity is in itself a unique culture. Our people have developed a unique sense of cheerful communication which can be identified no matter where we are. We, Malaysians are also very adaptable, respectful and tolerant of different beliefs and faith due to years of living together in harmony and peace.
One of the main beneficiaries of Malaysian’s multi and colourful cultural melting pot is not only our people but also our unique cuisine and delicious food which are recognised worldwide. The blend of spices, colourful flavours and curry powder that originated from Malaysian’s cuisines have uniquely evolved over hundreds of years due to the melting pot that Malaysia created.
The fact that we can have access to Ipoh Chicken Rice, Laksa Johor or Laksa Sarawak, Penang Nasi Kandar&Char Koay Teow, Roti Canai, Satay Kajang and most of all Nasi Lemak worldwide and also here in Melbourne is a testament that our rich culinary culture is mutually appreciated through-out the world. Don’t forget our famous teh tarik drink!
To me, we need to continuously appreciate and embrace our nation’s strengths, our diversity which unites us Malaysians, which is also essential for the continuous survival, stability and prosperity of our beloved Nation.
To drive the point further, the fact that our colourful cuisines and tourist destinations are appreciated worldwide is a crucial testament that our colourful culture is a positive and powerful brand for our nation.
To my fellow Malaysians, I believe that we all have the duty as cultural ambassadors of Malaysia to promote our country’s strengths no matter where we are. To achieve this, we should continue to embrace, appreciate and commercialise what Malaysia positively has to offer no matter where we go. Other than promoting our food, Fiesta Malaysia 2012 will also expose the essence of Malaysian diverse culture via our Malay, Chinese and Indian traditional dances, silat (Malay Martial Art), Malaysian weddings, and games created by the many different ethnic groups of Malaysia, and not to forget the truly Malaysian colloquial language.
I am glad that events such as today’s initiative is one such event which does this, and to our ‘Australian Mates’’, I also hope that with today’s event you can sample the colourful flavour of Malaysia, and that you too will be as excited as I am with regard to Malaysia.
The three-day event of Fiesta Malaysia 2012 is one of the most existing Malaysia cultural events in Melbourne and is run annually ever since 2006. The aim of the Fiesta is to share Malaysia’s culture with the Melbourne’s community. As there are over 75,000 Malaysians in the State of Victoria (The Australia Bureau of Statistic Census 2007), it is essential that we Malaysians become an integral part of Victoria’s multicultural identity.
May I also take this opportunity to convey our High Commissioner of Malaysia to Australia’s word of regret for not being able to attend today’s occasion due to his other prior commitment in Canberra. Dato’ Salman has also conveyed his words of appreciation and salam (regards) to those who have put up a lot of efforts in making today’s event a success.
I also wish to acknowledge Tourism Malaysia, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry Malaysia (MITI), Education Malaysia Australia (EMA), Penang State Government, the City of Melbourne, related companies and organisations, Malaysian Student’s Council of Australia, Victoria (MASCA-Victoria) and the organising committees of Fiesta Malaysia that have all assisted and contributed in ensuring that we continue to have Fiesta Malaysia in this city of Melbourne. Without their enduring support, the normal motto ‘to know Malaysia is to love Malaysia’ will not become a reality.
To that I say, welcome Fiesta Malaysia 2012, and to the city and the people of Melbourne, do overwhelm your senses in the best way possible. To quote the movie Forest Gump, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get’. So please enjoy Fiesta Malaysia 2012 and do taste the good food, do see the different cultural shows, do hear the different music and slangs, do feel the atmosphere of a mini Malaysia, and do smell the fragrant of Malaysia’s cuisine at Argyle Square, Lygon Street.
HIDUP AND SATU MALAYSIA!