Reports by QISHIN TARIQ, ADRIAN CHAN, JAROD LIM, CAVINA LIM, CHONG KAH YUAN, FIRDAOUS FADZIL and FATIMAH ZAINAL
Photos by NG KOK LEONG, ANDREW CHONG, S.S. KANESAN, IBRAHIM MOHTAR, ART CHEN, RAJA FAIZAL HISHAN, KAMARUL ARIFFIN, KEVIN TAN, GLENN GUAN, AZMAN GHANI,
NORAFIFI EHSAN, SAM THAM, SAMUEL ONG, GOH GAIK LEE, ASRI ABDUL GHANI, LIM BENG TATT and ZHAFARAN NASIB
KUALA LUMPUR: From indigenous people and families to CEOs and royalty, the thousands of Malaysians who gathered for Anak-Anak Malaysia Walk 2016 had only one message to share – unity.
Race was the last thing on their mind.
To them, the 3.4km walk was to show that Malaysians should stand together and not fight one another.
Information Department director-general Datuk Ibrahim Abdul Rahman said the walk was not about racing to the finish line but more about getting together.
The show of unity reminded him how Malaysia was a melting pot of cultures, he said.
“Our country is like a bowl. We are the cucumbers, the carrots and so on that make a salad. Our distinct identities are cemented together by the mayonnaise of unity,” he said before the flag-off.
The camaraderie was palpable from the word go.
Participants approached personalities like CIMB Group chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Razak and comedian Harith Iskander for “wefies”.
Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid, better known as Lat, helped push his wheelchair-bound friend Star Media Group executive editor Soo Ewe Jin who is battling nose cancer.
Lat said his works had always reflected the antics of being anak Malaysia (a Malaysian child).
“This Anak-Anak Malaysia theme is very close to my heart because I believe this identity is what unites us all and the essence of the future.”
“When I started drawing in the 70s, there was no need for such emphasis on unity but I liked the theme and stuck to it because I was working for a newspaper which catered to people of all ages. Things are different now,” said Lat.
“My hope is that Malaysians will let their children mingle freely with everybody from young. That was how I grew up.
“Adults are too preoccupied with the stresses of life to mix around but children have an inquisitive mind to learn and accept many things in life. So I am happy to see a big turnout of children and teenagers at this walk,” he added.
Soo said he was glad to see people from diverse backgrounds toasting to unity.
“Malaysia is a country that we know and love. So I am happy that the people are coming together to celebrate just for being us,” he said.
The event also showed how Malaysians were bound by the simple things in life like Milo.
When the Milo truck arrived, participants of all stripes, especially the younger ones, made a beeline for it.
The older ones who joined in said it reminded them of their favourite childhood drink.
A similar walk was held in George Town, Penang, in front of Khazanah Nasional Berhad office at Bangunan U.A.B.
For some, the event also became a reunion of sorts as they bumped into their old buddies.
PhD candidate Anis Nadiah Che Abdul Rahman, 28, from Pasir Mas said she came to support the walk not knowing that her friend, English teacher Syarifah Farah Nabilah Syed Idrus, 27, from Kuantan would be there too.
“It has been a long time since our days in university. We are so happy to see each other again here,” said Anis.
Her long lost friend Syarifah had worked in the United States for a few years after completing her degree.
Acclaimed shoe designer Datuk Jimmy Choo added colour to the event by bringing Eiji, Kizuna and Ivory which are 22-inch fashion dolls created by his son.
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