By Anand Holla
Not all marketing campaigns thrive on exaggerations. “Malaysia Truly Asia,” for instance, may not be an overstatement at all. At the International Ladies’ Potluck Group (ILPG) gathering on Wednesday, Malaysian members pieced together a vibrant picture of its multi-layered culture, offering a glimpse into its impressive diversity.
On Wednesday morning, soon after the large hall at the Al Jazi Gardens Clubhouse in West Bay – the womenfolk’s ever-faithful venue – began bustling with the chatter of its many members and guests, ILPG’s regular cultural carnival took off with the Malaysian national anthem and cutting of the cake.
As chief guest Datin Sabariah Jazri, wife of the Malaysian Ambassador to Qatar, flagged off the proceedings with a brief speech, the members responded with applause.
Next up was the traditional Malay dance Joget Pahang (Dance of Pahang), a lively dance performed to an upbeat tempo, followed by Snippets of Malaysia – a quick peek into the country’s ethnicity, cuisine, tourist attractions, and festivals.
After the solo male and female ethnic dances, it was time for a traditional costume show, featuring beautiful outfits such as the baju kurung, a knee-length blouse worn over a long skirt, topped with a scarf.
Another traditional dance Sumazao, which originates from the Kadazan people of Sabah province, captivated the audience with its slow, groovy movements accompanied by bird-like shrieks. Performed at religious ceremonies and social events, its traditional significance is in honouring spirits for rich paddy harvests, warding off evil spirits and curing ailments.
The last act was obviously reserved for the entire audience to come together and dance to some cheery Malay music. To bring the celebration to a close was the usual raffle competition, the prizes of which, much to the delight of the happy ladies whose tickets struck big, were sponsored by the Radisson Blu Hotel and Yum Yum Restaurant of the K108 Hotel.
Meanwhile, a far corner of the hall teemed with the choicest authentic Malaysian wares on sale – traditional clothes, bags, musical instruments, craftworks and knickknacks. Be it the gambus (traditional lute played by the Brunei-Malay community in Sabah) or the delicious multi-layered cake which is a specialty from the Sarawak province, there were plenty of shopping options for connoisseurs of exotica.
Maria Yong, one of the organising members of the event, said that the handicrafts on display, which were sourced from various ethnic communities, reflected the diversity of Malaysia. Pointing to a fine series of bead accessories, Yong said, “This is hand-made by one lady from Sarawak who lives in Qatar, and the work is amazingly intricate. It’s a tedious job but the result is worth it.”
Even the Malaysian flora found their way in. Cool bags, baskets and mats made out of pandan leaves (screw pine leaf or Pandanus) carried a distinct charm. “These are weaved by villagers and then dyed using natural colours,” Yong said. For style-seekers, there were printed ponchos, and for food enthusiasts, there were Malay cuisine essentials on sale like a chilli paste made out of dried shrimps, red chillies and onions.
It was only fair that the ladies got to top off their bright morning with a scrumptious Malaysian buffet, complete with a wide range of desserts. The event was sponsored by Holiday Villa Hotel & Residence, Doha, and Hyatt Plaza shopping mall Doha.
