They had to sacrifice their Hari Raya to showcase Malaysia’s companies and innovation at the world stage. Many even had to endure longer fasting hours under the scorching heat, all in the name of our nation.
[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]Hari Raya Aidilfitri in Kazakhstan is not celebrated in a big way, except for performing their morning prayers in the mosque and then it is business as usual. No special foods, visiting friends and families and no signs of a festival at any malls and most of all, no open houses.
But that did not dampen the Malaysians in any way. A bus ferried the Muslims to the Hazrat Sultan mosque, which is the second largest in Central Asia and a number of non-Muslims joined in as well to visit the mosque.
The Malaysians then had a feast at Rumah Malaysia, the official residence of the Malaysian Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Syed Mohamad Bakri Syed Abd Rahman, who was an excellent host together with his wife.
The ambience and the food created the Hari Raya open house mood that did help in minimising the feeling of homesickness and missing our familiar kampung-style Raya fanfare.
The open house was also attended by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau and wife Dr Jaina Sintian.
For Zainal Azman Abu Kassim, Senior Vice President of BioeconomyCorp who has served overseas as a diplomat, this is not the first time celebrating Hari Raya outside Malaysia.
“However, each time is a new experience and it is so enriching to learn the cultures and back-ground of others. I enjoyed the precious opportunities meeting new friends at the Raya special prayer at the mosque and shared our happiness together”, said Zainal who led the delegation for Week 3.
For Azman Ali Hatib Rahman, CEO of Cube Global, it was an eye opener to celebrate Hari Raya outside Malaysia. “I noticed there is more variety in our celebration than in Astana. But I enjoyed and was touched by the unity of Malaysians during the celebration at Rumah Malaysia”, he said.
The CEO of Muhibbah Sinergia Resources, Noor Arjuna Abd Ghani confided that it is sad to be away from family on Hari Raya for the first time and it has been more difficult this time as this has been his longest working trip overseas.
“But I feel grateful to have fellow friends to share the sadness and feeling of home-sickness. It helps a lot. And I have made local friends who are making my stay pleasant”, said Arjuna.
Rajini Kanth, Vice President of BioeconomyCorp and a fre-quent traveller was surprised with the gestures of the officers at the Malaysian Embassy who took turns to host the delegates at their homes.
Rajini said, “It is an experience to be invited to join in their celebration. I have travelled abroad many times but never to a country that celebrated a festival the local way as we do it.
It is worth mentioning that Suryati Tampit and Noor Atika Buang continuously hosted the Malaysian delegates at their home for the entire week.
For Atika it is her way of brushing off her homesick feelings. “I am a person who enjoys Hari Raya a lot and I love to be surrounded with families and friends. Having the Malaysians at my home gives me the Raya mood”, says Atika.
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