MALAYSIAN EMBASSY IN BANGKOK MARKS AIDILFITRI AMID EARTHQUAKE AFTERMATH

By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock

BANGKOK, April 1 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok celebrated Hari Raya Aidilfitri on Monday with a modest gathering, held amid the aftermath of the recent powerful earthquake in Myanmar that caused tremors in the Thai capital.

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake, which struck Myanmar on Friday, led to the temporary closure of several high-rise buildings in Bangkok for safety reasons, including the Malaysian Embassy, located on the 17th floor of Kronos Office Tower.

Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Malaysia to Thailand, Bong Yik Jui, said this year’s celebration was particularly poignant, occurring just three days after the tremors rattled Bangkok.

As a precaution, the customary Aidilfitri gathering had to be relocated from the embassy premises, which remained off-limits on Monday due to ongoing safety inspections.

"Many people are still shaken and traumatised after experiencing the earthquake, so this gathering is not only timely but also an opportunity for Malaysian Embassy staff to come together and find comfort in the company of friends and family," Bong told Bernama on Monday evening.

The gathering was held at Defence Attaché Brigadier General Samsul Rizal Musa’s residence near here. 

Around 200 guests attended the gathering, including representatives from the embassies of Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines, all dressed in traditional attire.

Alongside catered food, guests brought homemade Malaysian dishes such as Nasi Tomato, Lemang, Rendang, Ayam Masak Merah, Daging Masak Hitam, and an assortment of kuih raya.

-- BERNAMA