Renowned painter Martiros Saryan would compare the Armenian nation with a tree that has a thick trunk. He would say that the roots of an Armenian are in the Homeland, and the branches of an Armenian are in different countries around the world so that all nations can benefit from the fruits hanging from those branches. Yes, wherever Armenians may be, they build and stay true to their origins.

One of those Armenians is Hayern Aysor’s interlocutor, head of the Armenian community of Malaysia Emil Petrosyan, who has created a new ��?smithy’ for preservation of the Armenian identity for Armenians living in Malaysia.

Hayern Aysor: Besides living in Malaysia and performing community service, what else do you do?

Emil Petrosyan: I am a leading specialist for Ericsson. In 2008, my family and I moved to Malaysia since the company had sent me there on a business trip.

Malaysia is a marvelous, multi-ethnic, multi-religious, tropical country that is quite economically stable and is developing smoothly. The main state religion is Islam, but Christians and Buddhists live in solidarity as well. These were the contributing factors for my decision to settle in Malaysia.

In 2011, I established my organization, which deals with communication (telecommunication), solutions for testing semi-conductors, as well as centers for family leisure.

Hayern Aysor: I would like to ask you to present the history of the newly established community. What problems and challenges does the community face?

Emil Petrosyan: During the first couple of years, I knew only one or two Armenians, and it seemed as though there were no more Armenians. Armenian was only a household language for us. My children would attend an international pre-school where English was the language of instruction. They are currently attending an international school where they learn in English. Over time, with the call of the blood, I met some Armenians on business trips in Malaysia like me. They had come alone or with their families.

I wanted to establish an Armenian community in Malaysia like I want air and water. In 2012, the crew of Rafael Hovhannisyan’s “On Foreign Desolate Paths” came to Malaysia and prepared a program. There were already four Armenian families living in Malaysia, and the crew prepared a program devoted to those families.

During that period, I started seeking Armenian traces in Malaysia and found out that notable and wealthy Armenian families had moved from India 200 years ago and had lived in the city of Georgetown (modern-day Penang) of the Penang Island. They had a chain of hotels that were considered the best at the time, as well as clinics, hospitals, a printing house and a shipping company. They lived as Armenians, built a church and even a cemetery for families. Over time, for different reasons, Armenians have left the country. They destroyed the church and built a new church in Singapore. The church remains standing to this day. As for the cemetery, even today, Clement Liang, who is of Chinese descent, is protecting it as a part of the city’s history.

In the summer of 2013, we combined efforts and held an event dedicated to the memory of wealthy brothers Arshak, Tigran and Avet Sargis in the luxurious hall of the hotel in Penang. The event began with the showing of a video devoted to Armenia and the worthy sons of the Armenian nation, after which great friend of the Armenian nation Nadia Ryde presented her book devoted to the always creating and building Armenians.

I deem it important to mention the fact that my wife, Naira Harutyunyan has fully supported my pro-national activities since the very beginning and has made her great contribution to the accomplishment of my goal.

There were so many more Armenians form Armenia, Iran, Russia and countries of Central Asia (nearly 50) that we would celebrate all national holidays together, and there was an imperative to establish a community. In that period, a large group of Armenians and I participated in the “Tnits Heroo” (Far from Home) Armenian cognitive TV show. Our constituent assembly was held on May 28, 2016. I have always been supported by the faithful members of the community Ashot Tunyan and Lora, Marine Ivanyan, Manya Adamyan, Ara Torosyan, Artyom Grigoryan and his family, the Simonyans and Galstyans and others who were mainly from Kuala Lumpur and the Johor region. Our community has not been registered by state institutions, but, according to sequence, we take all the necessary steps to make sure we accomplish our ultimate goal.

In the current stage of establishment, we are not facing any large-scale problem. The only problem is that we are a small and young community. Nevertheless, the Armenians of Malaysia treat all community-related issues with a high sense of responsibility, and this helps us solve the current issues. I hope we continue this way.

Hayern Aysor: In which cities are the Armenians of Malaysia mainly based? What do they do?

Emil Petrosyan: As I said, there are 45-50 Armenians who are mainly based in the area near Kuala Lumpur, which is the capital city. There are also Armenian families in the Johor region.

Some of the local Armenians have their own businesses (import/export, solar battery industries, telecommunication, modeling agencies, family leisure centers, etc.), while others work in various sectors on a contractual basis. They are all exceptional professionals since they have met the demand for specialists with their presence.

The Armenian community still doesn’t have structures and institutions that can promote preservation of the Armenian identity. One of the community’s upcoming programs is to establish an institution for cultural and educational events.

Currently, Armenian families do everything they can to preserve the national identity. To keep the feeling of patriotism alive in the souls of children, we visit Armenia, go to theaters, the opera and visit various historic and cultural sites in Armenia.

Hayern Aysor: Are you taking relevant steps to strengthen the relations between Armenia and Malaysia? What are the foundations for those relations?

Emil Petrosyan: Armenian-Malaysian relations are currently elemental. We work hard to best present Armenia and Armenians in our working environment.

Hayern Aysor: Does the community celebrate national, church and state holidays?

Emil Petrosyan: We celebrate the holidays with our families, and this nourishes the national spirit.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Petrosyan, do you have anything to say about the young Armenians of Malaysia?

Emil Petrosyan: I must say that the community is not multi-layered. We don’t have elders or young people. The members of the community are mainly average people and children, as well as schoolchildren who receive an education in a foreign language. However, my meetings help them become familiar with their roots. We hold the meetings in leased halls.

Hayern Aysor: Pastor of Myanmar, Singapore and Dakka, representative of His Holiness in the Far East, Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Zaven Yazichyan recently served the first Holy Mass at the St. Michael Archangel Russian Orthodox Church in Kuala Lumpur. How exciting was the Holy Mass?

Emil Petrosyan: The attendees were indescribably excited and emotional. Many were crying. A blessing ceremony was also held.

The Lord’s Prayer was said for the first time in the history of Kuala Lumpur, and an Armenian child was baptized as a Christian. In fact, there were three children blessed during the ceremony.

The Holy Mass and baptism showed once again the deep feelings of Armenians for their national belonging and the roots of Christianity.

Interview by Gevorg Chichyan