The District And Land Office southwest region team members with their prize after winning the Best Dress category. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
IT WAS clever adaptation by the southwest District and Land Office contingent who took part in Penang’s Malaysia Day parade by assembling their own costumes to win the Best Dress category.
Contingent leader Nur Shamshinaz Shamsudin, 42, said the team with 60 members was on a tight budget for the costumes.
“We spent two months preparing the costumes.
“To save cost, we ordered some parts of the costumes online and assembled them on our own.
Participants waving the Jalur Gemilang during the celebration at Dewan Milenium in Kepala Batas, Penang.
“We wanted to reflect a true Malaysian identity and therefore, the costumes were designed to match the colours of the national flag.
“We wore traditional Malay attire, with women in baju kurung and men sporting the tengkolok headgear,” said Nur Shamshinaz.
Their efforts paid off when the contingent – donned in red, white, blue and yellow – stood out among 126 other contingents and emerged winner of the Best Dress category.
The team received RM3,000 and a trophy at the state-level Malaysia Day celebration at Dewan Milenium, Kepala Batas in Penang.
Cash prizes and trophies were also awarded to contingents that won in five other categories.
First, second and third-placed winners of each category received RM3,000, RM2,000, and RM1,000 respectively.
The winners were SJK (C) Min Sin (for the School Uniform Body category), Penang Free School (Brass Band), UiTM Penang Kesatria Commander (Higher Education Institution), St John’s Ambulance Malaysia Penang (Private Sector) and Penang Housing Board (Public Sector).
Ahmad Fuzi (centre) accompanied by Chow (second from left) and Law (left) at the event.
The Yang di-Pertua Negri of Penang Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, accompanied by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Penang Speaker Datuk Seri Law Choo Kiang, presented the prizes.
In his speech, Chow said Penang served as the best example of the Malaysia Madani spirit which inspired people to live and prosper together.
“Like a garden filled with blooming and fragrant flowers, the diverse community in Penang has lived together in a state of harmony and interdependence in the state’s development agenda.
“This unity is the secret of Penang’s prosperity,” he said.
Some 500 people representing their contingents were present at the three-hour celebration, which included dance and song performances.
