On Monday, 18 September 2023, the High Commission of Malaysia celebrated National Day and 90th Armed Forces Day of Malaysia at Islamabad Serena Hotel. Dr. Gohar Ejaz, Caretaker Federal Minister for Commerce was the Chief Guest. Others present were members of the Diplomatic Corps, (ASEAN Heads of Mission,) Defence Attaches, Malaysian community based in Pakistan, senior government officials of Pakistan, Think Tanks, members of business community and media personnel.
Ambassador Azhar and Madam Amelia Azhar along with Col. Noraripin Bin Othman, Defence Adviser of the High Commission and Madam Azalina welcomed the distinguished guests. The event started with the recitation of Doa, National Anthem of Malaysia "Negaraku" & Pakistan "Pak Sar Zameen Shadbad", cake cutting ceremony, photo session, Montage (video by tourism Malaysia) and cultural performance by Majlis Seni Sarawak.
In his remarks, Ambassador Azhar expressed Malaysia’s pride in its relationship with Pakistan underscoring the elevation of their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership in March 2019. He pointed out that both countries share similar positions in international fora such as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), and G-77. He also noted Pakistan’s role as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN and a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
Ambassador Azhar emphasized the extensive collaboration between Malaysia and Pakistan, spanning from culture and tourism, defense and security, education, economics and trade, health, human resources, capacity building, and parliamentary and people-to-people contacts. He highlighted the flourishing economic ties, particularly the Malaysian palm oil industry’s market presence in Pakistan.
On defense cooperation, he expressed his gratitude to the Pakistan Armed Forces for their close cooperation in strengthening the relationship between the two countries’ armed forces. In the field of education, Malaysia is a preferred destination for Pakistani students pursuing higher education, with nearly 5,000 Pakistani students currently studying in Malaysia. He affirmed his commitment to advancing this relationship, envisioning a future of robust economic ties, deepening cultural and people-to-people connections, and continued cooperation between the two nations.
During the event, Ambassador Azhar also extended warm congratulations and best wishes to Malaysians residing in Pakistan. A cultural troupe from Sarawak entertained the guests with their wonderful dance performances which includes Melayu, Iban, Melanau, Bidayau, and Orang Ulu, offering a glimpse into Malaysia’s culture. PERWAKILAN Islamabad also entertained the guests with their dance performance.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Gohar Ejaz, Federal Minister for Commerce, Industries and Production extended felicitations to the Government and people of Malaysia on the National Day and 90th Armed Forced Day of Malaysia. He lauded Malaysia’s progress and suggested that Pakistan should follow Malaysia’s example. Despite having a smaller population, Malaysia ranks highly in economic indices. Dr. Ejaz underlined the strong friendship between Pakistan and Malaysia and anticipated further growth in their cooperation in the future.
The event marked Malaysia’s Independence anniversary and served as a testament to the enduring relationship between Malaysia and Pakistan. A good number of guests of close to 400 attended the reception. The event garnered positive media coverage with officials and participants praising its success and impact. Newspapers and online platforms featured the event prominently, underscoring its significance and success.
Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9F5EbA6pBA
