JAKARTA: Over 370 guests, including Malaysian expatriates and locals, gathered at the Malaysian embassy’s complex in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Monday (June 17) for this year’s Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration.
The event began with the arrival of Ambassador Datuk Syed Md Hasrin Tengku Hussin and the Permanent Representative of Malaysia to Asean, Datin Sarah Al Bakri Devadason.
Festivities commenced with prayers, followed by a sermon from the embassy’s Religious Affairs First Secretary Mohd Shamsuri Ghazali and a group photo session before attendees enjoyed light refreshments.
Speaking to the media, Syed Md Hasrin said: "We hope this event strengthens the bonds between Malaysians in Jakarta, local residents, and our embassy staff, including Indonesians.”
He also called on both Malaysian and Indonesian communities to continue supporting the less fortunate, especially amid ongoing challenges faced by the Palestinians during Aidiladha.
The Qurban programme followed, featuring traditional sacrificial rituals involving four cows and 10 sheep.
The participation of the Persatuan Wanita Kementerian Luar (Perwakilan) Jakarta added to the community spirit with activities like meat processing and cooking.
Freshly prepared Qurban meat was distributed among approximately 100 underprivileged families in the surrounding areas, as well as among the attendees.
The event concluded with a communal lunch featuring special Malaysian dishes, such as turmeric-cooked beef, beef soup and lamb curry, which fostered camaraderie and reinforced cultural ties between the two countries. - Bernama