Beijing- Her name is Siti and just like her famous namesake in Malaysia, the 20-year-old student held her audience spellbound as she belted out a Malay song.
But what makes Siti Hajar`s performance even more impressive is the fact that she is not a Malaysian and Malay is not her first language.
Siti Hajar is in fact a Chinese national studying the Malay language at the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU).
Her Chinese name is Li Jing but she is known among her peers by her Malay name.
"I love Malaysia and its people. That is why I chose to study the Malay language and one day I hope to land a job in Malaysia," she said.
During a presentation at the university on Thursday, Li and the 46 other Malay Studies students showed off their language skills to the delight of the Malaysian delegation led by Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed.
Li had the minister personally congratulating her for her flawless rendition of "Langit 7". The students also entertained the crowd with "Zapin" and "Ikan Kekek" performances.
Earlier, BFSU Malay Studies director Professor Wu Zongyu said acclaimed Malay laureate Professor Datuk Awang Sarian would be the first person to hold the BFSU Malay chair next year.
Also present at the event was the Hai-O Enterprise Bhd managing director Tan Kai Hee who donated RM100,000 to the Malay studies programme in BFSU.
Source: www.nst.com.my (21 November 2007)
