Hari Raya Celebration Brings Malaysians Together - M'sian PM's Wife

SHANGHAI (China), Sept 7 (Bernama) -- The Hari Raya celebration has brought together Malaysians from all backgrouds, races, religions and culture, said the prime minister's wife, Rosmah Mansor (sixth from right). "It is a time when we set aside our differences and convene our similarities," she said. "Open house is a pride in Malaysian culture, and no amount of programmes can compete with this simple tradition of 'open house'," she said at the Hari Raya and Malaysia's 55th Independence Day celebration with the Malaysian community and students in Shanghai, Thursday night. Earlier, Rosmah delivered her keynote address on "Women Leadership In A Cross Cultural Environment" at the Women in Leadership Forum (WIL) China, here. About 350 Malaysians, comprising 150 students who are studying in Shanghai and 200 Malaysians who are residing here, attended the Raya and Merdeka (Independence) celebration. They waved flags when the 1Malaysia and Jalur Gemilang (Malaysian flag) songs were played. Rosmah's youngest son Nor Ashman, who is proficient in Mandarin, also greeted the attendees in Mandarin on stage. Technip Geoproduction (M) Sdn Bhd commissioning engineer, Mohd Izwan, 28, felt pround and happy with the celebration although far away from home. "There are also foreigners who come to join the celebration today, and they can see what is 1Malaysia and how diverse it is in Malaysia, with different races celebrating Hari Raya together," he said. President of the Malaysia Students Association in Shanghai, Lydia Fiza, 27, said it was the first time for her to see the Malays, Chinese and Indians gather and wave the Malaysian flag in Shanghai, and she was delighted with that. Also present were wife of the Malaysian foreign minister Rubiah Abdul Samad (second from left) and Malaysian deputy minister of Women, Family and Community Development Heng Seai Kei (third from right). (photoBERNAMA) MALAYSIA