NEW YORK: Perwakilan Tetap Malaysia ke Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) memulakan Kepengerusian ASEAN 2025 dengan penuh warna-warni menerusi majlis resepsi unik bertemakan perkahwinan tradisional Melayu yang menggabungkan warisan budaya dan kepentingan diplomatik.
Resepsi perkahwinan tradisional Melayu itu dianjurkan bagi meraikan Setiausaha Pertama Perwakilan Tetap Malaysia ke PBB, Nizhan Faraz Rizal dan isterinya Sarah Zahirah Ruhama, pada Jumaat malam menampilkan keindahan adat Melayu kepada para tetamu antarabangsa.
Daripada acara bersanding yang meriah sehingga upacara simbolik merenjis, tetamu disajikan pengalaman menyeluruh mengenai kekayaan warisan budaya Malaysia.
Mereka turut dijemput untuk menyertai upacara merenjis, iaitu adat memberi restu yang kebiasaannya dilakukan oleh ahli keluarga dan tetamu kehormat. Penyertaan interaktif ini meningkatkan lagi nilai majlis, menggabungkan formaliti diplomatik dengan meraikan adat budaya.
Majlis resepsi dihadiri diplomat asing, pemimpin komuniti, pegawai, serta tetamu kenamaan lain, menjadikannya satu acara pertukaran budaya yang benar-benar bermakna.
Duta Besar Malaysia ke Amerika Syarikat, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz dan isterinya, Datin Seri Haflin Nazri Aziz, turut menghadiri majlis itu.
Wakil Tetap Malaysia ke PBB, Datuk Dr. Ahmad Faisal Muhamad berkata resepsi itu menekankan semangat kebersamaan yang menjadi teras utama dalam perkahwinan tradisional Melayu, yang lazimnya berlangsung selama beberapa hari dan melibatkan seluruh kampung melalui semangat gotong-royong.
“Semangat gotong-royong dalam kalangan pegawai dan kakitangan kami benar-benar mencerminkan nilai teras budaya kita,” katanya sambil meluahkan rasa bangga terhadap kerjasama dan kesepakatan ditunjukkan perwakilan dalam menganjurkan majlis itu.
Apabila ditanya mengapa memilih tema perkahwinan tradisional Melayu berbanding persembahan kebudayaan seperti kebiasaan, Ahmad Faisal menjelaskan bahawa majlis itu juga bertujuan meraikan dua pegawai pejabat perwakilan tetap Malaysia yang baru sahaja melangsungkan perkahwinan.
“Kita rasa sangat bertuah kerana ada dua pegawai kita yang baru berkahwin, jadi kita ingin meraikan perkahwinan mereka. Sebab itu, kita mengambil peluang ini – sempena pelancaran Kepengerusian ASEAN Malaysia dan majlis penyerahan tugas, kita ingin menjadikannya satu acara kebudayaan dengan mengetengahkan istiadat perkahwinan Melayu,” katanya.
Menurut beliau majlis itu mempamerkan pelbagai elemen budaya, termasuk persandingan, merenjis, tarian, silat, dan makanan tradisional, memberikan peluang kepada hadirin untuk mengenali dan menikmati keunikan warisan budaya Melayu.
Pasangan pengantin baharu – Nizhan Faraz, 32, dan isterinya, Sarah Zahirah, 34, meluahkan rasa syukur yang mendalam dan berasa amat dihormati dengan penganjuran resepsi itu.
“Ini satu penghormatan yang sangat tinggi bagi kami dan bukan senang untuk mengadakan majlis perkahwinan tradisional Melayu di bandar raya New York ini,” kata Sarah Zahirah kepada Bernama.
Nizhan Faraz yang berasal dari Rawang dan sudah hampir tiga tahun bertugas di Pejabat Perwakilan Tetap Malaysia di New York manakala Sarah Zahirah merupakan pegawai Kementerian Luar.
Para diplomat yang menghadiri majlis itu menghargai keaslian dan kreativiti tema perkahwinan tradisional Melayu, yang menyegarkan daripada acara biasa.
“Ia berbeza daripada kebiasaan. Penyertaan tema perkahwinan tradisional Melayu yang kreatif dan unik memberikan sentuhan budaya yang istimewa pada malam ini, menjadikannya benar-benar diingati,” kata Burhan Gafoor daripada Perwakilan Tetap Singapura ke PBB.
Duta Filipina ke PBB Antonio M. Lagdameo Sr. turut memuji pendekatan inovatif Malaysia dalam pelancaran Kepengerusian ASEANnya.
“Ia benar-benar menyeronokkan,” kata Lagdameo. “Malaysia berjaya menggabungkan formaliti pengerusian dengan paparan tradisi yang indah, yang sudah tentu berkongsi banyak persamaan dengan adat ASEAN.”
Malaysia secara rasmi akan memegang peranan sebagai Pengerusi ASEAN mulai 1 Jan 2025.
--BERNAMA
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NEW YORK, Dec 8 (Bernama) – Malaysia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations set the stage for its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship with a unique and heartwarming celebration – a vibrant, traditional Malay wedding-themed reception that blended cultural heritage with diplomatic significance.
A traditional Malay wedding-themed reception for the First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations, Nizhan Faraz Rizal, and his wife, Sarah Zahirah Ruhama, on Friday night showcased the beauty of Malay customs to an international guest.
From the vibrant bersanding ceremony to the symbolic merenjis ritual, guests were treated to an immersive experience of Malaysia's rich cultural heritage.
They were invited to participate in the merenjis ritual, a meaningful blessing traditionally performed by family members and honoured guests. This interactive participation elevated the evening's significance, seamlessly blending diplomatic formality with cultural celebration.
The reception was attended by foreign diplomats, community leaders, officials, and other distinguished guests, making it a truly memorable cultural exchange.
Malaysian Ambassador to the United States, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, and his wife, Datin Seri Haflin Nazri Aziz, also attended the event.
Malaysia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Datuk Dr. Ahmad Faisal Muhamad, highlighted that the reception underscored the communal spirit central to traditional Malay weddings, which often span several days and involve entire villages in the cooperative e ort of gotong-royong.
“The spirit of gotong-royong among our officials and staff truly reflects the core values of our culture,” he said, expressing pride in the teamwork and camaraderie demonstrated by the Mission in organising the event.
When asked why he chose a traditional Malay wedding theme rather than a cultural performance, Ahmad Faisal explained that the event was also intended to celebrate two officers from the Malaysia's Permanent Mission who had recently tied the knot.
"We feel fortunate that two of our officers have recently married, and we want to celebrate their weddings. Therefore, as part of the launch of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and the handover ceremony, we saw this as a perfect opportunity to create a cultural event by showcasing traditional Malay wedding customs," he said.
According to him, the event showcased various cultural elements, including the bersanding ceremony, merenjis, traditional dances, silat, and traditional food, providing the guests with the opportunity to explore and enjoy the uniqueness of Malay cultural heritage.
The newlywed bride and groom - Nizhan, 32, and Sarah, 34, expressed their heartfelt gratitude and were deeply honoured by the reception.
"It is a great honour for us. Organising a traditional Malay wedding in the New York city is no easy feat," said Sarah to Bernama.
Nizhan, who hails from Rawang, Selangor, has been serving at Malaysia's Permanent Mission in New York for nearly three years, while Sarah is an o cer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Diplomats attending the event expressed their appreciation for the unique and refreshing departure from typical functions, highlighting the creativity and originality of the traditional Malay wedding theme.
"It's something different from the usual. The creative and unique inclusion of a traditional Malay wedding adds a special cultural touch to the evening, making it truly memorable," said Burhan Gafoor of Singapore's Permanent Mission to United Nations.
Antonio M. Lagdameo, SR, the Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations, expressed his appreciation for Malaysia's innovative approach to launching its ASEAN Chairmanship.
"It was truly enjoyable," Lagdameo said. "Malaysia successfully combined the formalities of chairmanship with a beautiful display of its traditions, which, of course, share many similarities with our own ASEAN customs."
Malaysia, will officially assume the role of ASEAN Chair from January 1, 2025.
https://asean.bernama.com/news.php?id=2372207
