By Aliaa Nur Diyana
KOTA KINABALU, 27 March 2022: Nur Liyana Razali, 26, from Papar, Sabah recently caught the attention of the crowds as she wore the dress of ethnic Murut Nabai when receiving her master’s degree in Engineering from University of Manchester, United Kingdom.
BERNAMA reported that the first child out of three siblings from the Brunei-Murut descent became the subject of public attention, when her photos in the traditional clothing underneath her graduation regalia during the convocation ceremony on 20 March went viral on social media, especially among Sabahan netizens.
Nur Liyana wore the motif-embellished indigenous outfit to showcase Murut tradition and culture to foreigners, and wanted it to be appreciated by the younger generation.
“Of course, I am content to receive my master’s degree, however, the memory will be more meaningful when I can present my mother’s Sabahan culture, the ethnic Murut in Borneo,” Nur Liyana said.
Nur Liyana who is now working as a management trainee in Nestle Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur expressed appreciation to the public, especially the native Sabahan, for giving her support and encouragement.
Her father Razali Matali, 51, indicated that Nur Liyana supposedly received her degree in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the convocation has to be postponed. Nonetheless, Razali along with his wife and other two children were grateful for being able to attend the ceremony this year.
“As a parent, I am so proud of Nur Liyana’s achievement and thank you to Sabah Foundation for providing Nur Liyana with a scholarship,” said Razali, who wore Malaysian traditional baju Melayu cekak musang and songkok to the ceremony.***
Source: BERNAMA