MINNESOTA CELEBRATES MALAYSIA THIS WEEKEND

SALMY HASHIM

WASHINGTON, June 21 (Bernama) -- Minnesotans will have their eyes focused
on Malaysia as the Minnesota International Center's (MIC) sold-out gala benefit
fundraiser kicks off to celebrate the state's cultural and economic ties with
Malaysia over the weekend.

President of MIC, Carol Engebretson Byrne, said in a telephone interview
that the gala would introduce the local community and business leaders to the
culture, cuisine, economy, politics, trade, and tourist attractions found in
Malaysia while raising funds for the MIC.

Malaysia's Deputy Chief of Mission Noraini Abdul Hamid would be on hand to
kick off the gala dinner Saturday night.

Other than major American companies with investments in Malaysia such as 3M,
Cargill and Eco Lab, sponsors of the event include Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia
Airlines.

There are about 100 Malaysian students studying at the University of
Minnesota - a number of them are taking part in the cultural performance such as
"Dikir Barat," Indian dance and the Lion dance, to promote Malaysia.

Dikir barat is a musical form, native to the Malay Peninsula, that involves
singing in groups—often in a competitive setting—and almost always without
instrumental accompaniment.

The University of Minnesota has had a 40-year cultural exchange programme
with University Science Malaysia (USM) in Penang through a scholarship
programme, said Bryne, whose son is currently in Kuala Lumpur under an
internship programme.

Byrne said there were about 400 Minnesota residents of Malaysian origin, and
one of them was Sharon Lim who is co-chairing the benefit.

Lim, who has resided in the US for about 10 years, and also the board member
of the MIC, spoke with enthusiasm about her involvement in the event and her
effort to make the event as authentic as possible.

"We are having roti canai (type of flatbread), satay (shish kebab style
cubes of meat dipped in peanut sauce) - and a display of batik (a cloth that
traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique) and bunga manggar
(decoration made of colored, glossy paper).

I am happy to share my personal connections with Malaysia, showcase to the
community what Malaysia is about - multicultural, multi racial - and Malaysia is
in transition politically, becoming more transparent and we have more freedom to
speak out - we are maturing as a country," said Sharon who grew up in Penang and
later moved to Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur.

Sharon also runs her own consulting firm, Bluefire International, that
promotes trade and investment between Asia and Minnesota.


According to the Minnesota Trade Office, amongst Asean countries, Malaysia
is the 4th largest export market for manufactures from Minnesota.

Out of the state's 205 international trading partners, Malaysia ranked 20th
in 2008 with US$165 million (RM561 million) worth of exports.

Exports to Malaysia from Minnesota were up 48 per cent for the period
2006-2007, making it one of the fastest growing export markets with commodities
that include machinery, optics and medical instruments, aircrafts, plastic and
pharmaceuticals.

Each year, the MIC hosts a gala benefit fundraiser to support the mission of
the Minnesota International Center and to celebrate a specific country.

For the last 19 years, MIC’s gala benefits have provided unique
opportunities to foreign governments and businesses to promote their country to
an influential audience of MIC members and friends eager to learn more about the
world.

Galas in the recent past has focused on Brazil, India, Ireland, Morocco,
the Czech Republic, the Nordic Countries and China with attendance ranging from
250 to 500 attendees, many of whom are well-traveled members of the Minnesota
corporate community.

Former Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been invited to
speak about Islam in the West, in September.

-- BERNAMA