NEW YORK, Sept 17 — Despite two other receptions associated with the United Nations being held in New York on the same day and time, Malaysia’s 57th National Day reception held yesterday evening at the Malaysian permanent mission to the United Nations attracted a large turnout of high-ranking foreign diplomats, UN officials, business people and Malaysian community leaders.

“I think we had a good crowd despite other receptions at the United Nations. The large turnout at our event was a testimony and a compliment for Malaysia’s popularity. The guests seemed to enjoy the Malaysian food served,” Datuk Hussein Haniff, Malaysia’s permanent representative to the UN, told Bernama at the mission.  

The food comprised traditional Malaysian dishes such as beef rendang, chicken biryani rice, Malaysian-style noodles as well as lamb kebabs along with an assortment of sweet desserts as well as fresh fruit.

The guests seemed to enjoy the food buffet spread on the table; the food was quickly replenished as soon as the trays containing it were emptied by the lines of guests who generously helped themselves to the delicacies which, according to the mission sources, had been prepared and supervised by Hussein’s wife, Sharifah Raguan Hussein.

Hussein and his wife as well as the senior staff at the mission, attired in the Malaysian national dress, welcomed the guests at the entrance of the mission which is located on 43rd Street between the 1st and 2nd Avenue in the direct proximity of the UN “glass building”, as the world body’s headquarters is sometimes called. 

A high-ranking East European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Bernama during the reception that he was in “two minds” when he received two invitations to two different receptions on Tuesday at the same time — one for the Malaysian reception and the other for another country’s reception.

“As my presence here shows, Malaysia won in the end. I decided to come here for a number of good reasons, including the food which I simply love,” he confessed unabashedly.

The Malaysian National Day reception was held this year at a time when Malaysia is vying for the coveted UN Security Council non-permanent seat for a two-year term from 2015.

A final decision on Malaysia’s candidature will be made on Oct 18 when the general assembly will vote on the issue.

Some pundits were interpreting the large turnout at Malaysia’s National Day reception as a sign of support for Malaysia, in general, and its candidature for a UNSC non-permanent seat, in particular. — Bernama