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The Embassy of Malaysia in Brasilia celebrated the 50^th Anniversary of the Independence of Malaysia in a more elaborated reception which was held at the Residence of the TYT Duta Besar Dato’ Ismail Mustapha on 4^th of September 2007. TYT Duta Besar gave a short speech in which he mentioned among others the success that the country has achieved since independence. Bilateral relations between Malaysia and Brazil have also strengthened over the years, both politically and economically. He mentioned that total bilateral trade between the two countries totaled at USD1.5 billion last year and was optimistic that despite the impediments faced by the two countries such as among others, distance, language, unfamiliarity with each other and connectively, this trade figure would surpass to USD2 billion this year. He added that Malaysia is confident that relations with Brazil would grow even further given the fact that the country is now giving importance to improving its relations with ASEAN countries.

 

The highlight of the reception was the cultural presentation where the guests were treated with Malay folk dances, Bunga Melati, Bunga Rampai and Sumazau and the evening’s highlight, a traditional Malay wedding. The performers for this presentation were staff members of the Malaysian Embassy and their families. During the bersanding ceremony of the Malay wedding show, TYT Duta Besar and Datin Zainab started the blessing ritual of the bride and the bridegroom followed by Ambassador Regina Dunlop, Head of Department of Asia Oceania, Ministry of External Relations and the rest of the ASEAN Heads of Mission in Brasilia. The guests were presented with a branch of decorative flowers bearing the egg which in this case was replaced with the chocolate. The finale of the cultural presentation was the song and dance called “Malaysia Truly Asia”. Dancers used scarves from different colours as a way to describe Malaysia’s ethnic diversity.

 

The guests were also served with delicious Malaysian cuisine which include fried rice and fried noodles, chicken drumsticks, beef satay, sweet sour fish, rendang, salad as main dishes and currypuff, popia, kueh lapis, kueh bakar, cream caramels and chocolate cakes as deserts.

 

About 350 people turn up for the occasioncomprising politicians, members of senior government officials, members of Diplomatic Corp, Malaysians, local media, members from the private sector and friends of Malaysia. . Some VIPs that attended the reception include Federal Deputy Viera da Cunha, Chairman of the External Relations’ Committee from the Lower House of Congress, Ambassador Regina Dunlop, Head of the Foreign Ministry’s Department of Asia and Oceania, Mr. Jose Geraldo Maciel, State Secretary of Health from the Federal District, Mrs. Marlene Bacelar, President of the International Club of Brasilia and Brigadier Paulo Henrique Russo Chief of Staff of the Aeronautics Command.