Heart-filled joy: SJK (T) Taman Tun Aminah pupils holding cardboard hearts representing Malaysian states at the school’s National Day event.
THE air surrounding SJK (T) Taman Tun Aminah was filled with excitement and booming cheers of pupils as its National Day celebrations got off to a brilliant start.
The cheers grew louder as eight cars adorned with the Jalur Gemilang drove into the school compound in Johor Baru, marking the start of the celebrations.
This has been the school’s tradition as celebrating the country’s historic day is exciting for pupils and teachers alike.
The grand celebrations had been postponed over the past two years and substituted with online activities when the Covid-19 pandemic hit our shores.
SJK (T) Taman Tun Aminah headmaster N. Revindran said it was a huge relief that the school could once again organise the National Day event as it was akin to a gift to the pupils.
SK Taman Bukit Dahlia pupils excitedly wave the Jalur Gemilang at their school.
“This is not only an important occasion, it is a tradition at our school.
“It is the most anticipated event of the year and pupils have been waiting to celebrate this day together for two long years.
“I am very happy that they can once again enjoy the National Day celebrations.
“This is especially significant to the Year 1 and 2 pupils who registered for school during the pandemic and missed out on the chance to experience such events,” he told StarMetro.
Sixty-five birds were released, symbolising 65 years of peace and harmony since the country’s independence, which received loud applause from the children.
Revindran: It is a huge relief to be able to organise a physical celebration for pupils as they have been looking forward to it.
The pupils, in displaying their Merdeka spirit, entertained guests with a variety of cultural performances.
“We had our National Day and Malaysia Day activities online for the past two years and while it helped instil the spirit of patriotism among pupils, it is not the same as holding physical activities.
“Pupils are more excited this year as they are eager to participate in the competitions and programmes that we have for them throughout August to Sept 16,” said Revindran.
SK Taman Bukit Dahlia in Pasir Gudang is another school that has gone to great lengths to create a programme for its National Day celebrations so that pupils will understand its significance.
Its headmaster Mohd Senin Kassim said its more than 1,400 pupils were excited when the school announced that it would resume its National Day celebrations.
“The pupils miss singing Merdeka songs and taking part in competitions with their friends.
“It is definitely not the same as the online activities we had over the past two years.
“The students even performed a short drama based on the recent Mat Kilau movie.
Mohd Hashim: Apart from the Ambang Merdeka celebration on Aug 31, residents can also take part in competitions.
“They practised and later performed it with great enthusiasm during our National Day and Malaysia Day launch,” he said, adding that he was proud of the pupils for showing such great spirit for these national celebrations.
“As a teacher, I am proud to see my pupils putting in so much effort to celebrate such significant occasions,” said Mohd Senin.
Apart from schools, village and resident committees are also rejoicing that they can organise a full-scale National Day celebration once more.
Kampung Bendahara Rukun Tetangga (RT) president Mohd Karim Wagiman said villagers were grateful to be able to hold a National Day celebration after it was postponed last year.
“We are continuing our tradition of hosting a Jalur Gemilang competition among villagers, where those with at least 10 flags around their homes stand a chance of winning cash prizes.
“What is unique about this year’s celebration is that we get to gather villagers in our community hall for the prize-giving ceremony as well as celebrate National Day.
“We have been waiting for this for so long and I am really looking forward to once again experiencing the excitement.
“Villagers are looking forward to joining the event, which we will be holding in the first week of September as we also want to commemorate Malaysia Day,” said Mohd Karim.
Also taking a similar initiative to ignite the National Day spirit is Taman Mawar Fasa 1 RT in Pasir Gudang.
Its president Mohd Hashim Marsidi said besides the Ambang Merdeka celebration on Aug 31, residents were also given the chance to take part in competitions.
“This year, we decided to host traditional costume and bicycle decoration contests.
“Both the young and old are very excited to have been able to celebrate National Day, as it has been quiet for the past two years because of the pandemic,” he said.
He added that residents were advised to keep their face masks on as a precaution, since many were expected to join in the upcoming celebrations.
