King, Queen extend Kaamatan and Gawai greetings
KUALA LUMPUR: The Kaamatan Festival and Gawai Day reflect Malaysia's rich tapestry of traditions and the harmony of its multicultural society, says Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
In a post on the official Facebook account of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, His Majesty said the diversity of Malaysian culture is manifested through the celebration of these festivals.
'The celebrations are not only a sign of gratitude at the end of the harvest season but also a reminder for all citizens to always be thankful for the blessings and fortunes bestowed upon them, in accordance with their respective beliefs and practices,' read the post, Bernama reported.
His Majesty and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, the Queen of Malaysia, also extended greetings to Malaysians celebrating the festivals.
Kaamatan Festival and Gawai Day are offerings of thanks following the end of the harvest season.
Sabahans celebrated the Kaamatan Festival yesterday while Sarawakians will observe Gawai Day today.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof called on the people to continue to defend Malaysia's harmony in diversity, strengthen the ties of brotherhood and preserve unity.
He said this when wishing a Happy Kaamatan Festival to the entire Kadazan Dusun, Murut and Rungus community, particularly in Sabah.
Fadillah said just like other festivals, Kaamatan is a manifestation of the racial diversity and cultural richness of the community in Malaysia, who live in peace and harmony regardless of racial, religious and cultural background.
'With its theme of 'Kaamatan For All', let's celebrate the festival with joy, strengthen ties of kinship and be grateful for the sustenance and good harvest.
'May our harvest this year and the years to come continue to overflow, bringing with it goodness, success and prosperity to all.
'Happy Kaamatan Festival, Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan,' said Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, in a post on Facebook yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Kaamatan Festival and Gawai Day are proof that harmony, tolerance and consensus can unite the people of Malaysia as one big family regardless of race, religion and background.
He said these festivals not only symbolise gratitude for their harvest but reflect the rich tradition and cultural heritage of the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
'May the Kaamatan Festival and Gawai Day celebrations this year bring goodness, prosperity and a brighter future for all Malaysians, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak. Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan and Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai!,' he posted on X.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi also extended similar greetings, saying he hoped that the festive season brings overflowing cheerfulness, love and sustenance to everyone.
'Happy Kaamatan Festival and Gawai Day to all friends and families in Sabah and Sarawak.
'Both festivals illustrate the richness of culture, customs and traditions and are symbols of harmony in the diversity of the people of Malaysia.
'Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan and Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai!' he said in a Facebook post.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
‘Flying roti canai' wins over food lovers at Osaka expo
OSAKA: The 'Flying Roti Canai' is not just being flipped into the air; it has soared to stardom at Expo 2025 Osaka, becoming a sensation at the Malaysia Pavilion. With dough spinning through the air like edible art and the buttery aroma drawing crowds from across the globe, this humble flatbread is stealing the spotlight and appetites. Some visitors are willing to queue for up to two hours just to get a taste of the roti canai, expertly hurled by Muhammad Muiz Ruzaini and Mohamad Zul Imran Zulkifle in a dazzling display of culinary acrobatics. 'Many have praised the deliciousness of the roti canai and given very positive feedback, both in terms of taste and our presentation. 'After eating, many would come up and say 'oishi' (delicious). Some even repeat it seven times,' said Muhammad Muiz, adding that most of the visitors were from Japan, South Korea and China. The Kedahan said he did not expect to be selected as part of the Malaysian delegation to Expo 2025 Osaka, where he has been proudly showcasing the rich flavours of Malaysian cuisine on the world stage, Bernama reported. Flipping fantastic: Muhammad Muiz in action at the Malaysia Pavilion Cafe during Expo 2025 Osaka which runs from April 13 to Oct 13. — Bernama Each roti canai is served piping hot with chicken curry and dhal, all for 1,680 yen (RM49.82). Daily sales average between 1,000 and 1,600 pieces, underscoring its growing popularity among visitors. Roti canai is a pan-fried flatbread and a popular breakfast staple in Malaysia, made from a mixture of flour, water, salt, butter and eggs. The dough is skilfully stretched, flipped, and spun in the air to create a layered texture, crispy and flaky on the outside, but soft and fluffy on the inside. In 2023, TasteAtlas, a global food database, ranked roti canai among the 'Top 100 Best Street Foods in the World'. Mohamad Zul Imran, a roti canai maker from Penang, expressed hope that the growing popularity of the dish at the Expo would help elevate it on the global culinary map and inspire more tourists to visit Malaysia. 'I hope the Malaysia Pavilion roti canai becomes the number one dish at Expo 2025,' he said. Japanese visitor Yoko Yoshinaga described the dish as 'sweet, with a unique texture and addictive qualities'. 'This is my second time having roti canai. I first saw it on X, and the unforgettable taste brought me back. I lined up again just to relive the experience,' she said. Yoshinaga, who visited Malaysia 30 years ago, praised the nation's development, calling it a peaceful and modern country. Another visitor, Hanako Sekimukai, who tried roti canai for the first time, said she was pleasantly surprised by its flavour. 'I've been to Malaysia before, but I never had the chance to try roti canai. The chicken curry served with it wasn't too spicy, which made it even more enjoyable,' she said, adding that the cultural performances at the pavilion brought back fond memories of her time in Malaysia. Spanning 2,654.52sq m across three floors, the Malaysia Pavilion reflects the nation's diverse culture and dynamic economy. Under the theme 'Weaving a Future in Harmony', the pavilion highlights Malaysia's commitment to a sustainable, inclusive and forward-looking future.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Royal recognition for sign language interpreter
KUALA LUMPUR: With more than four decades of dedication as a sign language interpreter, Tan Lee Bee is the face seen by millions of Malaysians watching the news programmes on television. Often seen at the corner of the television screen showing her expressive facial expressions, Tan, 64, was grateful to have been awarded the Bintang Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN) from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, during the investiture ceremony in conjunction with the King's official birthday celebration at Istana Negara yesterday. She described the award as a great recognition for her in the 'silent' struggle to convey the voices of the 'voiceless'. 'I feel happy, moved; I feel like crying too... I feel very grateful,' the veteran sign language interpreter told Bernama after the ceremony. Although the award was celebrated in a ceremonial atmosphere at the palace, for Tan, it came with long memories and the twists and turns of life in a career that received little public attention. 'This recognition is not just for me but a symbolic tribute to every interpreter who works silently for fairer inclusivity in Malaysia,' she said. Tan's journey as a sign interpreter began not because of ambition but because of love and empathy for her younger sister, who is deaf. 'I learnt sign language because of my sister. Then, I started working as a teacher for the deaf. I was a teacher for 17 years. 'While I was a teacher, I also served as an interpreter with the Federal Court of Malaysia,' said Tan, who also became the first court sign interpreter in Malaysia in 1994. The contribution of the Segamat native to the world of broadcasting began earlier in 1985 when she appeared on television through the show Selamat Pagi Malaysia. Her face and sign language actions became important visuals in news broadcasts on RTM as well as in official communication videos, advertisements and various broadcasting mediums, which played an important role in conveying information to special groups.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Zur Eda's enduring passion
VETERAN singer Zur Eda Mokhtar, 60, looks hale and hearty, even though she was seriously ill a decade ago. Back in 2015, she suffered from a kidney ailment, which landed her a three-month stay in a government hospital. Fortunately, she recovered and bounced back to health and, today, she continues to entertain fans at events in the Klang Valley. Expressing gratitude to all her fans and loved ones for praying hard for her recovery, Zur Eda is also thankful to veteran singers Datuk DJ Dave, Datuk M Nasir and Datuk Nash, the trustees of Yayasan Kebajikan Artis Tanahair (YKAT), for lending a helping hand during her long hospitalisation. "They were the first people to go all out and help me meet my medical expenses, which were pretty costly," said Zur Eda at a recent 'buka puasa' organised by YKAT in Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur. "Thank God, I'm once again able to sing for Malaysians. I was in tremendous pain as a result of the kidney infection, and while warded at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, I often feared for the worst." Zur Eda also struggled to make ends meet during the Covid-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022. "I am also grateful that my singing career has never stopped, especially after appearing in the third season of the reality show, 'Gegar Vaganza'." Zur Eda described 'Gegar Vaganza' or GV as a godsend for her. "The reality show allows young ones to know me and other 'otais'. It is a healthy and friendly competition from the word go, and a great avenue to catch up with long-lost friends." When asked if her children or grandchildren would follow in her footsteps, Zur Eda said the answer was a definite "no". "I've got two adult children, who can sing but only as a hobby, and four grandchildren aged one to 7. "They love my music very much, and I sang them to sleep when they were toddlers. "Perhaps they may want to follow in my footsteps one day, but they must graduate with degrees first." Zur Eda, whose real name is Zuraidah Mokhtar, began her singing career in the 1980s and was initially nicknamed "Sade Malaysia" for her slight resemblance to the legendary Nigerian-British singer Sade Adu. "My hair was curly, and my forehead was wide. I also wore big round earrings, which were the latest trend at the time. "Coincidentally, Sade was popular with the song 'Smooth Operator' then, and journalists started calling me Sade Malaysia," she said. Zur Eda, however, insisted that she had no intention of imitating Sade, as their music genres were entirely different — she was a pop singer while Sade shone in jazz. On the most memorable moment in her career, the singer fondly remembered visiting the interior district of Belaga in Kapit, Sarawak. "I was happy to see the Orang Ulu community in Sarawak, who met and greeted me warmly in Belaga in 1989. "It was among the happiest moments in my career were performing in Sabah and Sarawak. The people there are very friendly and cheerful." She also said while singing in Belaga, an insect entered her mouth, but fortunately, she spit it out. While singing at the Black Jack Club in 1984, Zur Eda met her husband, Zulkifli Mohd Yusof, who was also a bass guitarist, and they married a year later. They were blessed with two children, Siti Sarah, 35, and Mohd Naquib, 28. Zur Eda has produced three albums, namely 'Pelitaku' in 1987, followed by 'Lama Tak Jumpa' (1990) and 'Kelmarin' (1992), since becoming a singer at the age of 18. For almost a decade, Zur Eda has been making biscuits and cakes for Hari Raya during Ramadan and selling them at her Ramadan stall in The Curve, Petaling Jaya. "Many of my fellow artistes sell their cakes or biscuits there, there's Liza Abdullah, Ismaliza Ismail, Elliza Razak and Amai Kamaruddin. "I've been making cakes and biscuits for four decades. It is a good investment because an artiste will always fall on hard times and needs to support himself or herself with a second job." Zur Eda plans to record songs with new singers as there are many talents among the newcomers. "We all must learn to adapt with the times, to roll with the times," she said. "And as always, the songs I record help raise funds for the needy — helping them, especially the artistes, always makes me happy," she said.
