Expatriates give thumbs-up to open houses
MIRI: Miri’s friendly multiracial community and political stability have drawn the expatriate community to work and live here.
This second city in Sarawak has a large expatriate community following the discovery of oil and gas in 1910.
Expatriates interviewed by thesundaypost here yesterday said the holding of open houses during festivities makes the city a conducive place to live in.
President of Miri Petroleum Ladies Association (PWPM), Srimurniyati Cranfield from Indonesia noted that open houses in Miri are far merrier than in other countries they have lived in over the years.
“This is our second open house in Miri City. It is simply the best among all our Hari Raya open houses overseas in Abu Dhabi, Holland, UK and even back home in Indonesia.
Here the people of different cultures and traditions come in droves to our open house with some even dressed in Malay traditional attire. Emma from UK – a friend of my daughter Emily – looks great in Baju Kurung,” Srimurniyati said when met at their open house in Luak yesterday.
She said the friendly multi-racial community in Miri is one of the reasons her family made Miri their second home while her British husband Landale Cranfield was on contract as consultant well engineer trainer with Sarawak Shell Berhad.
Cranfield has adapted well to the new environment, making a name for himself as the Miri Division Rugby Association (MDRA) chief coach, while his wife Srimurniyati is involved with many charitable and non-governmental organisations.
Expatriate Bharathi Anand from Chennai, India also noticed that the various festivals enabled all races to come together in Miri.
“Be it Hari Raya, Deepavali or Gawai, people of other races join in the celebration, even dressing in traditional costumes like Baju Kurung for Hari Raya and sari or Punjabi suit for Deepavali. The celebrants would greet one another with festive greetings,” she observed.
Bharathi said in her hometown in South India, they hold open house but it’s mainly for family members, relatives and very close friends.
“The festive celebration in Malaysia is like one big family gathering,” added Bharathi.
She came to Miri 12 years ago, accompanying her husband Dr PC Anand who works as consultant orthopaedic surgeon with Columbia Asia Hospital Miri.