Event to promote Malaysian ‘oneness’ ahead of I-Day
dubai — Malaysian diplomats, trade officials and tourism attachés held a special photo session at the foot of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, on Monday to drum up support for the celebration of the 60th Independence Day of Malaysia on August 31.
Malaysian Consul-General Dato’ Yubazlan Yusof said the event is part of a global campaign by the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Department to take photos of Malaysian diplomatic officials to be sent to their home country ahead of the Independence Day celebrations.
The Dubai-based Malaysian envoys carried their jalur gemilang (national flag) and held posters saying #KamiAnakMalaysia (we are children of Malaysia) and Negaraku Sehati Sejiwa (My Country One Heart One Soul). “We are doing this as part of the monthlong Merdeka (Independence) celebration in Malaysia,” Yusof told Khaleej Times. “We encourage our people to promote Malaysian ‘oneness’ and I encourage my compatriots in Dubai to symbolically wave the Malaysian flag in their hearts.
“Malaysians should not just regard jalur gemilang as a piece of cloth. Malaysians in the UAE
Malaysia and UAE are almost identical. Both are multi-racial and multireligious countries where people from various backgrounds live and work happily.” Dato’ Yubazlan Yusof, Malaysian Consul-General
should express their pride for Malaysia by flying their flag deep inside their hearts not only in the month of August,” he said.
The top Malaysian envoy added that a motorcycle tour dubbed Kembara Merdeka (Independence Tour) will soon be held in Dubai to celebrate Malaysian independence while a bigger celebration is slated on September 22 to commemorate Hari Malaysia or Malaysia Day, which falls on September 16.
Yusof said the theme for this year’s Independence Day is Negaraku Sehati Sejiwa, which means ‘My Country One Heart One Soul’. “I urge all Malaysians in the UAE to be united to defend the national flag and national sovereignty by casting aside differences including religion, race and political ideology.”
Yusof emphasised that Malaysian expats should always abide by the UAE rules and regulations and make their country proud. “All Malaysians are urged to be thankful for the freedom, peace and unity that they are enjoying both in Malaysia and the UAE.”
According to Yusof, Malaysia is one of the first countries to recognise the formation of the UAE. Malaysia and the UAE established bilateral relations back in 1971. “Malaysia and the UAE are almost identical. Both are multi-racial and multi-religious countries where people from various backgrounds live and work happily. A lot of Malaysian businessmen came to the UAE seeking opportunities and many of them were successful,” said Yusof.
There are around 7,000 Malaysians living and working in the UAE and around 3,700 of them are based in Dubai. Most of the Malaysians are professionals in the field of oil and gas, engineering, banking and airline industry.
Meanwhile, Malaysia is a top tourist destination for the UAE residents. Around 35,000 tourists from the UAE visited Malaysia last year. Last year, trade between the UAE and Malaysia reached $5.36b (Dh19.69b) and in the first three months of this year, exports and imports totaled Dh5.66billion, according to Malaysian trade officials.