Malaysia Day: Food helps strengthen Zawiyah’s friendship with Labuan community

ALOR GAJAH, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- For Zawiyah Abdul Majid, a former Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) personnel, popular dishes in Peninsular Malaysia such as soto has helped her to create a strong bond of friendship with the Labuan community when she started serving there in 1991.

Zawiyah, 61, who ended her service in 1994 in Labuan after serving 13 years with the RMN, said she would cook soto (a dish of chicken soup, rice vermicelli, and ketupat) and other popular side dishes to share with her neighbours during Aidilfitri and Aidiladha celebrations.

Speaking to Bernama ahead of the Malaysia Day celebration on Sept 16, she said her neighbours usually served local delicacies such as pastries and cakes when she visited their homes.

Born in Singapore on Aug 31, 1961, Zawiyah, who served as a Leading Rate Radio Communications (LK KMR) at RMN Labuan, said the local community loves the traditional food of Peninsular Malaysia, especially soto.

“When I first visited the neighbours, I was excited to see that they had several serving tables with various pastries and cakes.

“On every table, there would be different pastries and cakes, like kek kukus (steamed cakes) and batik cakes. It was a new experience for me then,” she said when met at her house in Kampung Padang Keladi here.

According to Zawiyah, every time she shares food with her neighbours, they would return the favour by sending her a tray full of cakes and pastries.

“Such memories will stay in my heart forever,” said the Pingat Jasa Malaysia award recipient.

When asked about the Malaysia Day celebrations when she was serving in Labuan, Zawiyah said she had only participated in the celebration at the camp level.

“Usually, there would be a march past by military officers and personnel and a ceremony to raise the Jalur Gemilang.

“Although the public was not allowed to enter the camp, we still decorated it with hundreds of flags to express our love for the country,” she added.

-- BERNAMA