Malaysian cultural performances, food festivals and a choir of young Malaysians singing on the Great Wall of China will bring alive the country's 50th Merdeka celebrations in Beijing.

The celebrations will kick off in various Chinese cities and in Hong Kong from next week and culminate in Aug 31 receptions in Beijing, Kunming, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

"We want to show we are proud of what we have achieved in building a harmonious country out of our multi-ethnic races. The celebrations will keep the Malaysian spirit alive within Malaysians in China," said Malaysian Ambassador Syed Norulzaman Kamarulzaman.

The envoy thanked the support of Malaysian companies and individuals for coming forward to support the celebrations.

There are about 15,000 Malaysians on the mainland, another 15,000 in Hong Kong and 2,000 in Macao.

In Beijing, Syed Norulzaman will launch a five-day Malaysia Week on Aug 27, featuring a photo exhibition, sculptures and batik art by UiTM students, stalls by half a dozen Malaysian restaurants and a 22-member Operafest Children's Choir from Malaysia.

The choir, comprising eight to 14-year-olds, will sing a medley of Malaysian songs on the Great Wall on July 26, said Michael Tay, Tourism Malaysia director in Beijing.

Syed Norulzaman will host a Merdeka Family Day on Sept 8 at his residence "Rumah Malaysia" for Malaysians and their families.

The Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Maycham) of China has lined up a Merdeka Golf Tournament on Aug 24 and a Maycham Ball on Aug 25 in Beijing.

Reception for 500

The Merdeka reception in Shanghai will be held in the first week of September, said newly-appointed Consul-General Azmil Zabidi, adding that Malaysian associations in Jiangsu and Shanghai have planned dinners on Aug 25 and Sept 1, respectively.

In Guangzhou, the Malaysian Consulate will host a reception for 500 at the Guangzhou Shangri-La which is also hosting a month-long Malaysian food and cultural promotion.

A cultural group from Sabah will perform at the reception and Malaysians in Xiamen, Fujian, are also holding a dinner to celebrate as well, said new consular-general Roslan Abdul Rahman.

In Kunming, Malaysian Consular-General Ayauf Bachi said a Malaysian food fair will begin on Aug 29 at the Harbour Plaza Hotel where the consulate will hold a reception on Aug 31.

The Malaysian Association of Sichuan has also arranged a dinner on Sept 15 to coincide with the Chinese mid-autumn festival at the Chengdu Shangri-La Hotel, he said.

In Hong Kong, Chief Executive Donald Tsang will be among the 800 guests to attend a reception at the Island Shangri-La and another reception is being considered in Macao, said Consul-General K. Ilankovan.

Malaysians in Hong Kong will have a grand ball on Sept 1 at the Island Shangri-La which has imported two chefs from its hotel in Kuala Lumpur for a 10-day Malaysian food festival starting Aug 22.

A Merdeka golf tournament is planned in early November, Ilankovan added.

- Reproduced with permission from Bernama