Malaysia Night shares culture of Asian nation

Brian Wiuff
DM Staff writer

Singing, dancing, ancient legends and the smell of good food all permeated the air in the Education Auditorium Sunday night. The cause of the festivities was the Malaysian Student Association's annual presentation of Malaysian Nite '99.

"For the past 18 years, the purpose of Malaysian Nite has always been to introduce and share the culture of Malaysia," said Konrad Yapp, a member of the Malaysian Student Association and the evening's master of ceremonies.

Malaysia Nite '99 was kicked off with a slide presentation that revealed both the natural beauty and cultural diversity of the country.

Malaysia is a tropical nation in the South Pacific that occupies an area about the size of New Mexico but is spread over different land masses and individual islands. The population of 21 million lives in 64 different regions, each with its own culture and identity. Ethnic groups in Malaysia range from Malay to Chinese to Indians. The religious face of the nation is equally varied. Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, Hinduism, Christianity and Sikhism are all practiced.

This diversity was reflected in the varying dress and appearance of the members of the MSA as they sang the Malaysian National Anthem following the slide show.

Michael Johansson, acting director of international programs, then welcomed the audience hoping to prove that, "an evening of culture can be both enriching and fun."

The first performance was a harmonious coordination of drumming, clapping, singing and seated dance called the "Dikir Barat.'" This sometimes soothing, sometimes exciting routine is an ancient tradition in Malaysian culture that was originally reserved for royal celebrations and considered to be of great importance. However, modern Malaysia has seen it less as a regular event, but it is sometimes used as a teaching method for the young.

The show progressed with a song dedicated to the autumn breeze, seen as a symbol of life, friendship, truth, hope and faith.

Along with song and dance, comedy played an important role in Sunday's festivities . Two humorous skits were presented. The first dealt with the trials of a driving examination. The second, set to the tune of Mr. Bombastic, involved heroic macho displays, with the damsel in distress played by Andrew Simon, the president of the MSA.

A dance entitled "Sunrise" ended the first half of the show. It integrated the Malay, Chinese and Indian dance styles and accentuated their differences in stylistic dress.

Intermission afforded the attendees the opportunity to sample Malaysian cuisine prepared by Hunan Chinese restaurant. The meal was served on a base of rice, the most abundant and popular food in Malaysia, and topped with potatoes, stir-fried vegetables, and a spicy yet delicious curry. A staple of the Malaysian table, fried sweet potatoes, provided an especially delicious end to the meal.

Immediately after dinner, a theatrical rendering of the "Legend of Mahsuri" was presented. This important folk tale recounts the trials of the princess of one Malaysian island. It is a classic story of love, social strife, religious suspicion, trust and political intrigue, resulting with a curse against the land to last seven generations.

Malaysian student and performer Kenneth Wong brought the program back to song, with his performance of two songs in Cantonese, both by a recently deceased pop star. Along with his hip yet emotional vocals, Wong also played the guitar, much to the delight of the audience.

The finale of the evening was a unique blend of dance serving as a modern fashion show. The richly ornamented models displayed traditional dress of both men and women, representing each of the main Malaysian cultures.

The evening concluded with a warming Malaysian folk song performed by the entire MSA.

The performers were met with loud cheering and a standing ovation. According to Yapp, the seats had in previous years been filled mostly with international students, but this year he was glad that more of the university community came out to enjoy the show.