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Monday, 12 December 2011 18:08 |
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 Germany and Malaysia, these two countries are closer to each other than the geographic distance may indicate. The base of such connection and its prosperity lies in the hands of ambitious individuals. Two “trailblazers” of cultural as well as economic exchange between “Truly Asia” and “Good old Germany” were honored on 2 December 2011 in a festive multicultural ceremony in Berlin. The Embassy of Malaysia opened its doors to the DtMG and its award recipients, H.E. Tan Sri Dr. Rafidah Aziz (Minister of Trade and Industry 1987-2008) and Datuk Dr. Helmut Baur (Chairman and CEO Binder Optik AG).
The Ambassador of Malaysia, Dato’ Ibrahim Abdullah, opened the event with German punctuality exactly at 4 pm and addressed in his welcome-speech the numerous guests from both nations. The following greetings highlighted the flourishing exchange between Malaysia and Germany during recent years, which is often built on very personal commitment of people from both countries. This key aspect was also stressed by the award-recipients, with “power lady” Rafidah Aziz, delivering an inspiring speech (that was Malaysia at its best) on the importance of values such as understanding, tolerance and mutuality as the fundament for true and equal partnership between countries from East and West.
What would be such an event without those ingredients that put every “cultural ambassador” into a stage of delight: music, arts and delicious food. Here too, the event had lots to offer. Music by Mozart and Mendelssohn-Bartholdy performed by Arthur Horn, Klara Horn and Elisabeth Glass, three young, already highly decorated musicians, was charming the audience. „The Embassy Singers“ conducted by Andrew Sims offered their grandiose and sometimes hilarious repertoire of German and Malaysian songs. The paintings of Zubin Zainal, a Kuala Lumpur original who has been living in Germany for several years, did show the importance of art for intercultural friendship. When the president of the German-Malaysian-Society, Dato’ Dr. Deja, finally opened the unforgettable buffet with various Malaysian and Thai delights, everybody agreed with all senses that the exchange between Malaysia and Germany is something worth working for.
André Müller, DtMG member |
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First „DtMG-Casual Meeting “ in Berlin |
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Sunday, 23 October 2011 17:39 |
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“A great success” was the happy resume of Mrs Marita Sayn-Nikitaridis, new board member of the DtMG for and in Berlin. Her invitation to the first “DtMG Casual Meeting” at the restaurant M. Looi (with a Malaysian chef) followed numerous persons with personal memories or new interest in Malaysia. They were representing all kinds of professions and generations.
In a relaxed atmosphere the most important topic for all participants was the upcoming annual DtMG award ceremony. This year’s Malaysian award recipient will be honourable Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, former Minister of International Trade and Industry. The German recipient will be Senator e.h. Datuk Helmut Baur, Chairman of Binder Optics in Baden-Wuerttemberg and Board Member of the German Association of Medium Size Enterprises.
The president of the DtMG, Dr. Achim Deja, and the senior executive board member, Dr. Martina Timmermann, who happened to be in Berlin and could provide first hand information on the state of preparation.
The award ceremony will take place in the Malaysian Embassy in Berlin on Friday, 2 December 2011, 16:00 – 18:30 hours, followed by a reception.
Personal invitations to our members and guests are currently being sent out.
Dr. Martina Timmermann
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Report 3: "Inside the Cycle - Lessons for Life" |
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Tuesday, 20 September 2011 16:10 |
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Dear Reader,
Here is the third report about my impressions of faraway Malaysia. Everyone who did read the past reports will notice that this one is slightly different. During the last weeks I did indeed realize how difficult it can be to leave one’s own cultural background behind. Within two days I received negative feedback from four different people, because I fell into many “cultural traps“.
Trap 1: Sometimes Germans tend to be very spoiled. In the end of the fasting month Ramadhan my host family and I went to Singapore for the celebrations. We were accommodated in the apartment of relatives. As there were a great number of guests, I was asked to sleep on the floor. After deliberating very carefully about how I can let our friendly hosts know that it is very problematic for me to get a good night’s sleep on the floor (at six in the morning, after a seven-hour journey) I carefully approached them. Immediately they offered me the couch and I was thinking „that was so easy and everybody is fine“. Think again!
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