(AFP) feature

In a dimly-lit hotel ballroom, hundreds of single Chinese danced the Macarena and mingled at Malaysia's first matchmaking party aimed at boosting the community's low birthrate.

Some 400 Chinese men and women, aged between 25 and 57, turned up for a Sunday tea-party - dubbed "Knowing me, knowing you" - at a Kuala Lumpur hotel, with high hopes of meeting a life partner.

The event was the first under the "Cupid Space Club", set up last month by the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) to give single men and women over 25 a place to meet, with the hope their encounter might lead to marriage and then children.

"The response is overwhelming. We had only expected 300 people," said club chairman Chew Mei Fun.

But many participants complained the crowd was too large for them to get to know each other, while some were put off by a large media presence.

The three-hour party kicked off with games to break the ice, including swaying hips to the Macarena and pairing couples to dance the Limbo Rock.

Smaller groups

With Mandarin and English love songs in the air, two officials dressed as the "Old Man of the Moon" and the "Woman in Red" - both Chinese folklore characters - moved among shy participants and acted as messengers.

The chandeliers in the ballroom were gently dimmed and candles lit two banquet tables to create a romantic mood.

Participants wore name tags listing their age and occupation, and had to sign a form declaring they were legally single.

Hoe Ching Yong, a shy 40-year-old engineer, said he was overwhelmed by the large crowd.

"It's a good idea but I think it's more efficient to organise trips for smaller groups. I'm not in a rush to get married but I do hope to find that someone special here."

Yvonne Siew, a pretty, petite 29-year-old, said her parents signed her up for the party and paid the RM60 ringgit fee for her.

"My parents want me to get to know more people. My younger sister is getting married soon, and they are a little worried that I am still single," she said.

Siew said her parents had tried to matchmake for her twice previously and she did not find such methods old-fashioned.

Media shy

"I just returned from my studies overseas three years ago and I do not have many friends. My social life is skewed to business, so this is a fun way to meet men."

But not everyone is happy with the arrangements.

A woman in her 20s, who declined to be identified, said organisers were insensitive to their needs.

"We need confidentiality but there are so many cameramen here. How can we enjoy ourselves knowing our pictures may appear in the newspapers tomorrow?"

The woman, an education officer, said she also found the games too childish.

"The games are more suited for a youth camp than for professionals. They should have arranged more appropriate interaction instead of getting us to behave like a clown," she said.

An attractive administration executive in her early 40s, who wanted to be known only as Irene, urged organisers to categorise events according to age group and limit the crowd to below 100.

"I do meet a lot of people in my line of work but sometimes Cupid just doesn't strike. It looks like it's not going to strike here either," she said.

She also felt uneasy with the media presence, saying: "Some of us are professionals and we do not want to be seen as desperate."

Out of place

The eldest man on the floor was 57-year-old widower Wong Wee Han, who had migrated to Australia and was back in Malaysia on holiday.

"I am here to look for new friends but I find that the crowd is young and I do feel a little out of place," said the retired teacher.

MCA women's wing chief Ng Yen Yen said participants should "be themselves" and let their hair down.

"It's healthy and it's fun. They're not here looking for a mate but to have fun. Nobody needs to feel embarrassed about it. They should have self-confidence," Ng said.

The Cupid Club's next programme is an overnight trip to a highland resort next month for 20 couples.

Chinese make up about a quarter of Malaysia's 23 million population - down from around 30 percent at independence in 1957 - and the birthrate is falling faster than that of the Malay and Indian populations. The community fears a loss of political influence if its numbers keep dwindling.

The MCA programme is similar to a much older practise in neighbouring Singapore, which has set up government-run matchmaking programs targeting well-educated professionals who tend to marry later.