MALAYSIANS IN PARIS CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR

Embassy of Malaysia

Paris

03/07                                                                 12 February 2007

PRESS RELEASE

The Malaysian Association in France (MAF) organised a Hi-Tea in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration in Paris on Sunday, 11 February 2007. More than 120 Malaysians together with their families and friends braved the wet and windy weather to attend the event held at a restaurant in busy Paris? Chinatown. 

2.                  The event graced by the Malaysian Ambassador to France, H.E. Dato? S. Thanarajasingam, was also attended by his wife, Datin Dr. Saradha Iyer, the staff of the Embassy and Malaysian agencies as well as Malaysian students in Paris. 

3.                  In his welcoming address to the Malaysians present, H.E. Dato? S. Thanarajasingam conveyed his Chinese New Year greetings adding that Chinese New Year was an important event in Malaysia. It helped showcase the multicultural facet of Malaysia under a government which emphasized national unity.

4.                  He took the opportunity to remind Malaysians in France to uphold the good name of Malaysia by working hard and being law-abiding citizens wherever they were. H.E. Ambassador also reminded them on the activities which would be organised by the Embassy in conjunction with the 50^th Merdeka Day Celebrations and the Visit Malaysia Year 2007. One of these activities included the ?Malaysian Charity Bazaar? organized by the ladies association, PERWAKILAN, which would take place on Saturday May 19, 2007.

5.                  On the Malaysian economy, H.E. Ambassador explained it continued to grow, as underlined in the country?s total trade volume which had reached RM1 trillion in 2006. The rising trend of business growth in Malaysia had also resulted  a positive uptrend in the Kuala Lumpur Stock Market, he added.       

6.                    The highlights of the Chinese New Year celebration were the ?Yee Sang? followed by a sumptuous meal of roti jala, rendang, chicken curry and the restaurant?s specialities. The various dishes and savouries served followed by the Malay, Chinese and English songs sung by members gave the celebration a festive ambiance reflecting the multiracial society of Malaysia.

7.                  The finale of the event was a lucky draw offering many attractive prizes including an air ticket to Kuala Lumpur contributed by Malaysia Airlines and a one-night stay for two at the Regent Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.  

Embassy of Malaysia

Paris.