By Nor Faridah Abd Rashid
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 (Bernama) -- Masood Khalid's stint as
Pakistan's High Commissioner to Malaysia may have been a short one, but judging
from his farewell speech, the envoy was overwhelmed by Malaysian hospitality
and touched by its people's warmth and friendliness.
After almost two years here, Masood, whose next posting is
to Beijing, China, leaves Malaysia with a tinge of nostalgia.
"I have enjoyed my stay here, even though it has been a
short one. I have enjoyed the beauty of your country, your cuisine, your
customs, your culture and the liveliness of Malaysia," he said at a
farewell and appreciation reception hosted by the Malaysia-Pakistan Business
Council recently.
"And I have personally experienced the special
sentiment for Pakistan everywhere I went. Even among men on the street, when I
said I was from Pakistan, I could see there was a special sentiment and warmth
for Pakistan. That was very touching for my family and I," said the High
Commissioner.
Recalling the early days of his posting here in August 2010,
he remarked that he was surprised to find Malaysians knew so much about
biryani.
"Every other person I met talked about biryani. That
was a surprise to me because I didn't know Malaysians knew so much about
biryani," he said.
However, biryani aside, he hoped that Pakistanis and
Malaysians could raise their awareness of each other's culture, through
cultural exchanges.
He noted that there were many similarities between the two
cultures because of their religious values, history and widespread use of
English.
Masood also emphasised the role played by the
Malaysia-Pakistan Business Council with regards to bilateral trade relations,
and said it could act as a platform for tapping into business opportunities in
Pakistan.
Formed in March last year, the council is steered by
Chairman Datuk Mohamad Salim Fateh Din, whom Masood believes has made a very
good start by organising various activities, including sending a delegation to
a recent expo in Pakistan and conducting business matchmaking sessions for
entrepreneurs from both sides.
The envoy also announced that in recognition of Mohamad
Salim's contribution and role in enhancing economic cooperation between the two
countries, the Pakistani government was awarding him a medal of distinction,
which will be formally presented to him on Pakistan Day, March 24 next year.
When asked about his new posting, Masood said he was looking
forward to it and described the posting to China as an "important
assignment for any Pakistani diplomat."
Mohamad Salim, meanwhile, agreed that with the establishment
of the council, Malaysian businessmen now had a platform to make further
inroads into Pakistan.
"We can now talk about economic and social issues and
other matters that were not previously discussed by businessmen in both
countries. The council is a vital platform to spearhead more business
interactions as well as social and cultural exchanges," he added.
-- BERNAMA
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