MALAYSIA'S MULTIRACIAL HARMONY AMAZES FOREIGN DIPLOMATS

NEW YORK, Sept 12 (Bernama) –- The harmony of the multiracial and
multi-religious society in Malaysia, as displayed in the Aidilfitri open house
here, has amazed many foreign diplomats.

    Malaysian Permanent Representative to the United Nations  Hussein Haniff
said, foreign diplomats who attended the open house were impressed with
the cordial relations among Malaysians of different races and religions
celebrating the Aidilfitri.

    "The open house is not only celebrated among Muslims but is also an occasion
for the people, irrespective of their race and religion, as demonstrated by the
attendance of foreigners and their families.

    "They were also fascinated to learn that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the
prime minister also held open houses every Hari Raya Aidilfitri to celebrate
the festival with the people," he told Bernama at the event Saturday.

    The function was jointly organised by the Malaysian Permanent Representative
Office and the Malaysian Consular office in New York.

      About 300 guests, including Malaysian Ambassador to the United States, Dr
Jamaluddin Jarjis, and wife Dr Kalsom Ismail, as well as diplomats from the
Organisation Of Islamic Conference countries and Asean, Malaysian students and
citizens from around New York and New Jersey attended the event.

    It was postponed to Sept 10 as the office building was slightly damaged by
Hurricane Irene at the end of last month.

    Hussein, who took over as Malaysia's UN Permanent Representative here five
months ago, said the open house was also an opportunity for Malaysian students
and citizens to mingle with government staff at the mission and obtain an update
of developments back home.

    He was thankful to the foreign ministry's women association in New York in
providing various Aidilfitri delicacies, including rendang, satay, mee rebus and
a variety of traditional kuih raya.

    -– BERNAMA