The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Guests attending the gala dinner in conjunction with the Bosnian Festive Week were treated to folk dances and songs by a 70-member cultural troupe from Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail and Raja Perempuan Perlis Tuanku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid graced the occasion. 

Royal performer: Tuanku Fauziah joining a Bosnian cultural troupe in a song during the Bosnia Festive Week show at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

The royal couple's attendance was significant as Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin visited the country last September as part of his official duties as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.  

Show organiser Istimewa Restu Sdn Bhd executive chairman Joseph Vijay Kumar said Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin's visit, including to Srebenica, the scene of the massacre of thousands of people, had touched the hearts of many Bosnians. 

“Malaysia had also stood up to defend Bosnia-Herzegovina in the international stage and provided a lot of assistance to them,” he said. 

“The Bosnian performers are here in appreciation of their people's gratitude to Malaysia.”  

Bosnia and Herzegovina ambassador Mustafa Mujeznovic said proceeds from the two-week show would be used to buy computers for Bosnian schoolchildren and college students.  

Most of the cultural troupe members were born during the civil war in the 1990s during the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. 

The performers, wearing white costumes with colourful jackets and headgear, entertained the audience with traditional dances and songs which reflected the cultural background of the Bosniaks, Serbians and Croatians.