National Day parade kicks off

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Day parade has kicked off and a long list of festivities is in store to commemorate Malaysia's 60th year of independence.

The celebration began at 8.09am Thursday, immediately after the arrival of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

Tens of thousands have since gathered at Dataran Merdeka, with many arriving as early as 6am to grab the perfect spot to catch the annual parade.

The sea of Malaysians sang the Negaraku with much gusto during the raising of the national flag.

There was also a flypast of five helicopters by the Malaysian Armed Forces, which bore the Jalur Gemilang and the flags of the Armed Forces, Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

 

Sultan Muhammad V then inspected a guard-of-honour of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.

Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, dressed in a beige shirt and matching trousers of the same colour, arrived in a vintage car with his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Najib would reenact the scene from exactly 60 years ago when Abdul Rahman proclaimed independence by chanting Merdeka seven times.

More than 17,000 people, ranging from school students to government and private sector personnel, are involved in the parade, which are divided into eight segments.

Special performances planned for the day include a flashback during pre-Independence, the British rule, Japan rule, the communist and its violence and the atmosphere on the eve of Merdeka and the proclamation of independence back in 1957.

Among dignitaries present are Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, other Cabinet ministers, foreign dignitaries and the heads of respective government departments and agencies.

In PASIR GUDANG, the state-level parade here saw the participation of some 4,500 participants from various government departments and agencies.

A total of 129 contingents marched some two kilometres from the Padang Exstrem Pasir Gudang through the main stage set up at the Komplex Perbandaran Pasir Gudang to the indoor stadium here.

Among those who took part in the event included the police, army, Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), Customs Department as well as the Immigration Department.

Many contingents also showed the patriotic spirit by donning Jalur Gemilang-inspired costumes and waved the national flag as they passed the stage.

The crowd lined the streets as early as 8am to witness the parade, cheering and snapping photos and recording videos of the event.

Spectator also caught a glimpse of the Armed Forces assets and a convoy of antic cars that ferried Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and other officials to the stadium.