SANDAKAN: (This is the first of a two articles from a recent meeting between the diplomats with Sandakan Media Association chairman (Pemassa) chairman James Leong in Kuala Lumpur)
The first part features the interview with Dr. Habibreza Arzani, Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Malaysia.
Dr. Habibreza was posted to Malaysia last year. He was born in Tehran and hails originally from Esfahan, a significant city in Central Iran, which served as the magnificent capital of the Seljuq and Safavid dynasties.
Esfahan is celebrated for its exquisite beauty, encapsulated in the Iranian adage that “Esfahan is half the world.” This city is also renowned for its wealth of historical buildings, monuments, paintings, and artifacts. The city’s renown is further reflected in the Persian proverb Esfahān nesf-e-jahān ast, meaning “Isfahan is half (of) the world.” The Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, recognized as one of the largest city squares globally, is a testament to the city’s historical significance and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In his capacity as Iran’s Cultural Counsellor, Dr. Habibreza’s primary responsibility is to collaborate with the Malaysian government on matters of mutual interest. Having resided in Malaysia for nearly a year, he has observed that Malaysian culture shares numerous similarities with Iranian culture. To the extent that he has never felt like he is living in a foreign land; rather, it feels as though he is in at “home”. This is a testament to the warmth of Malaysian culture, which fosters a sense of unity among people, regardless of their origins.
According to Dr. Habibreza, the Iran Cultural Centre expresses its keen interest in exploring cultural relations with the states of Sabah and Sarawak.
“As a Cultural Counsellor in Malaysia, our portfolio encompasses a diverse array of initiatives. Quran diplomacy is one of the important project amongst Muslim country,” he said.
