Malaysian consulate hosts 67th National Day reception in Pontianak

JAKARTA: The Malaysian Consulate in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, held its 67th National Day reception on Saturday evening, drawing 300 guests, including the Acting Governor of West Kalimantan, Harisson, and his wife, Windy Prihastari.

The guest list included prominent figures from the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), such as the Tanjungpura Military Commander, the West Kalimantan Regional Police Chief, the High Prosecutor, the Head of the Pontianak High Court, and the Acting Mayor of Pontianak.

Also in attendance were the Head of Customs, the Head of Bank Indonesia, the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Force representatives, alongside Friends of Malaysia, business community members, and the Malaysian diaspora in Kalimantan.

The evening began with the national anthems of Malaysia and Indonesia, followed by speeches from Consul Azizul Zekri Abd Rahim and Harisson. The event concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony and a reception.

Azizul Zekri highlighted the strengthened partnership between Malaysia and West Kalimantan, attributing it to extensive bilateral activities and cooperation programmes.

He talked about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on both regions and commended the joint efforts by the Malaysian government, particularly the Sarawak state government and West Kalimantan administration to revitalise their economies.

“Tourism, transport, education, and social affairs sectors have all seen improvements,” Azizul Zekri noted, adding that the upcoming Nusantara capital in East Kalimantan is expected to further stimulate regional growth and trade.

He also pointed out that West Kalimantan serves as a crucial economic gateway for Malaysia-Indonesia relations, with significant entry points including Biawak, Tebedu, and Lubuk Antu in Sarawak, and Aruk, Entikong, and Badau in West Kalimantan.

Harisson, in his speech, expressed optimism about the continued strong cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia.

“I want to congratulate Malaysia on its National Day and look forward to continuing our good relationship,” he said.

The reception, featuring performances from the Sara Music group from Sarawak, a poetry recitation titled “Tanah Lahirku”, and song and silat displays by the consulate’s staff and liaison officers’ children, was the first of its kind in many years.

The Malaysian Consulate began operations in Pontianak in 1982, marking 42 years of diplomatic presence. – BERNAMA