Impressive feat: Suhaimi’s doa recitation in nine languages during the PBB Convention in Kuching earned him loud applause from those in attendance. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KUCHING: It only took Suhaimi Mohamad a month to learn to recite the doa in nine languages, and his effort impressed attendees at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Convention here.
The Bukit Kota PBB deputy youth chief recited the doa in Arabic, Bahasa Malaysia, English, Iban, Melanau, Bisaya, Lun Bawang, Bidayuh and Mandarin during the opening of the Youth and Women’s wings’ general assemblies yesterday.
The multilingual recitation captured the attention of delegates of various backgrounds who applauded loudly in appreciation.
Suhaimi, 37, said it took him about a month to achieve the feat, adding that he found Mandarin especially challenging due to the difference between the spelling and pronunciation.
“I learned Mandarin from my Chinese friends and local business owners. Since this was for a formal doa recital, I asked them to make sure that my pronunciation was accurate,” he said.
For the other local languages like Iban and Bisaya, he practised with native speakers to get it right.
“Lun Bawang was easier because I’m used to hearing it in my interactions with the community,” he said, adding that it was his own initiative to recite the multilingual doa to reflect Sarawak’s diversity.
“We all know that Sarawak is multilingual. There are many ethnic groups but I only managed to learn nine languages within the time I had.
“Moreover, there are Muslims from other races, including the Chinese and Iban.
“When they hear the doa in their own language, they feel appreciated,” Suhaimi added.
Meanwhile, PBB deputy president Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said strong leadership and a spirit of consensus led to the party’s success over the years.
He said past and present leaders had shown unwavering commitment and fairness to all, highlighting the smooth leadership transitions.
He said the consensus between the Pesaka and bumiputra wings was a key factor in PBB’s strength.
The Pesaka wing consists of non-Muslim Dayaks while the bumiputra wing is made up of Malays and Muslim as well as non-Muslim Melanaus.
“When the Pesaka wing holds the Youth chief’s post, the bumiputra wing will get the Women’s chief post.
“Both wings have their own tracks, including a deputy president each. There is no collision.
“So, there is no issue of racial and religious confrontation. This makes us strong,” he said when opening both general assemblies.
Uggah said the consensus between both wings was not in the party constitution but had been practised over the years.
He called on PBB members to uphold the practice and maintain the party’s solidarity.
“Don’t raise racial issues that will divide us. Value our diversity and be fair to all,” he said.
