PENANG, May 2014 – The Housing, Building and Planning Postgraduate Student Association (HBPPA) of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) recently organised for the first time the HBP Postgraduate Cultural Day to showcase and introduce cultural diversity of more than 10 countries including Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Indonesia and India.

According to the School of HBP Dean, Associate Professor Dr. Aldrin Abdullah, the inaugural programme was intended to bring together its international postgradute students to share with one another each other’s culture hence increasing cultural awareness among them.

“Before this, the School of HBP only organised international food festival, but this year it was decided that the programme should include other elements of culture as well such as clothings, music, handicrafts, traditional games and dances,” said Aldrin who also launched the one-day programme held in the School of HBP.

Even though it was only a one-day event, visitors who mostly made up of students were able to learn and appreciate the richness and uniqueness of the diverse culture without having to travel to the respective countries.

Also present were Deputy Ambassador of Iraq to Malaysia, Munif Ali Hussain; Cultural Advisor at Iraqi Embassy, Professor Dr. Hassan Al-Shara'; USM School of HBP Deputy Dean (Research), Associate Professor Sr. Dr. Mastura Jaafar who was also the Advisor of HBP Postgraduate Cultural Day; USM Institute of Postgraduate Studies Deputy Dean, Professor Dr. Fauziah Ahmad and HBPPA President 1, Ala`a Nimer Abukhalifeh from Jordan.

“The Iraqi Embassy fully supports such an endeavour and suggested that in the future, invitation should be extended to other embassies as well to attend. It can be used as an avenue to further strenghten the relationship between the various embassies in Malaysia,” said Munif.

The opening ceremony was also graced with Indian, Malay, Iraqi and Iranian classical dances performed by the students, and songs sung by Iranian and Syrian children. All the guests were also brought to visit the cultural exhibition booths set up along the corridor of the School of HBP office and savoured the cuisines from different countries. – Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe/Text: Nor Rafizah Md Zain/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa