KUALA LUMPUR:There was joy aplenty at a multiracial reception to usher Christmas at a family home in Ampang.
Former Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) officer Capt (Rtd) Martin Sebastian and his Sinhalese wife, Jacinta Basnayake, played hosts to veterans and neighbours at his Ampang Prima penthouse residence.
Martin’s daughter, Laurelle Sebastian and her aunts Rachel Basnayake, and Angela Basnayake, played great ‘butlers’.
Present to add the Yuletide cheer was the country’s first local RMN chief, Rear-Admiral (Rtd) Tan Sri K. Thanabalasingam, 84.
Other prominent guest included RMN’s administration head Capt M. Saravanan and Lt Cdr John Gomez, the United States Coastguard officer Frank Pelekai and former army commando Lt-Col (Rtd) Ananthan Subramaniam.
Martin, who is now the Maritime Institute of Malaysia senior fellow and maritime security and diplomacy head, said the reception fostered greater neighbourliness and camaraderie among the veterans.
‘Christmas is a time to rejoice the birth of Jesus Christ and spread this joy among friends and loved ones.
‘It is also a time for giving and forgiving to enrich friendships and relationships, and look forward to ushering another wonderful year.
‘My family and I want to share the Almighty God’s blessings with our friends of various races and religions with a good spread of local and western dishes,’ said Martin.
Among the neighbours who brought along a ‘pot-luck’ were Simon Ooi and his Kadazan wife Marion Ooi, Bryan See, John Gomez and his Dusun wife Safarina Ekus, Eric Chong, his wife Irene Chong and his brother-in-law from Australia Danny Soon.