SIDMA College Sabah 2019 Hari Raya Aidilfitri Open House at SIDMA Atrium on 28 June 2019 really touched the hearts of Prof Dr Morni Hj Kambrie (Chairman and Founder of SIDMA College), Puan Azlina Ngatimin (Director Corporate Marketing & Business Development), Madam Azizah Khalid Merican (CEO) as SIDMA staff from the various departments have collaboratively and collectively organised the event together to enliven the spirit of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

The main purpose of this extraordinary event was to give an exhilarating experience, particularly to the college staff from various races, religions and cultural background co-existing together in our multiracial setting. This customary event also promotes openness and inclusiveness among the staff. 

During the event, staff from the various cultural background participated in the event by dressing themselves in traditional Malay attire: such as Baju Melayu, Baju Kurung, Baju Kebaya, or in their traditional cultural attire such as the traditional costume of Rungus.

Apart from the traditional attire, the event also exposed the various diversified traditional Malay food such as Rendang, Nasi Himpit, Kuah Kacang, Satay, Ketupat, Kari Ayam, Biskut Raya and many more. The staffs of the college also were divided into several groups, and each group collectively prepared and showcased their own secret recipe of preparing some the traditional food, all done in spirit of unity and team spirit; providing opportunities for everyone to mingle around together and get a taste of the food, in harmony, without much protocol.

Dr Morni in his Hari Raya Aidilfitri greetings stressed that the “rumah terbuka” or open house concept is very prevalent in the SIDMA culture especially during major festivals and celebrations like the Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Kaamatan Harvest Festival, Chinese New Year and Christmas. Apart from having open house event such as this, the college also provide goodies to its staff prior to such festivals.  

SIDMA Chairman and Founder also extended his warmest Hari Raya Aidilfitri Maaf Zahir dan Batin greetings to all SIDMA staff who took time to come together and join the celebration, thus creating a very united SIDMA community. He too, congratulated the staff for their initiative to collectively organised the event, despite being busy with their core business - preparing and facilitating students in class.

The chairman also expressed his appreciation to SIDMA staff for their team spirit to ensure the success of SIDMA goal and aspiration, but once again reminded SIDMA staff that although the global economic growth managed to improve by only 3 per cent currently, which is in fact the highest growth rate since 2011, but unfortunately, it is predicted to remain status quo for the coming year. Thus he requested all his SIDMA staff to continue focusing on college goal, increase output and as well as be more outcome oriented in their job.

During the event various unique and entertaining performance were held to enliven the Hari Raya Spirit of the day such as dancing, singing and more from each of the respective teams. The main highlight of the event was the Rendang food-tasting competition. Each group prepare their special dish of Rendang using their own secret recipe. The judges selected Rendang prepared by the team from CEO’s Office, the Finance Department and Human Resource Department as the winner of the competition; and was presented cash prize provided by the top management of SIDMA College.

Mr Iwan Mahdzuan was selected as the winner for best Baju Raya attire for Male Category; and Mdm. Riga Lenggean on the other hand won the female category. They were among all the participants who were really dressed to their best traditional attire; but Mr Iwan and Ms Riga attire were exceptional, and managed to mesmerise the jury’s attention.

SIDMA College staff gathering is never complete without Dr Morni and SIDMA staff given the opportunity to convey happy birthday greetings and well wishes to those celebrating their birthday that season. During the occasion, staff celebrating their birthday on the month of April, May and June 2019 were invited to the “Birthday Cake Candle Blowing” amidst “Happy Birthday” song sung by their colleagues.

The day ended with all the college staff enjoying the traditional food prepared by the staff such as kelupis, curry, Biskut raya, Satay, Ketupat, lemang and more brought and shared by staff of the college. Special Ice Cream catered by Qaseh Ice-cream and Bakso (an Indonesian Noodle Soup) were also provided in the event, sponsored by CEO and PAD. For the closing, the event was graced with the entertaining and mesmerizing performance by Nor Ain, Top 7 Sugandoi State Level 2019 winner and Rudy Banabas, First Runner up of UPKO Sugandoi 2019 Competition.

By Teo Eng Seng and Zain Azrai,

SIDMA College Sabah,

88300 KOTA KINABALU.