WHEN a friend suggested meeting at Kajang Stadium to watch Selangor’s National Day parade, Aeryn Chow, 19, was thrilled.
“I hadn’t seen my friend in two years, so I thought, why not spice it up a little and be nicely dressed.
Chow, a student at a local university, said it was her first time watching a National Day parade in person.
She was among some 20,000 people who turned up for the state-level celebration.
Her friend Noor Syazwani Ahmad Rifaee, 19, who came to see the fireworks and colourful parade floats, said: “I thought this would be a nice experience for us.”
Launched by Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, the celebration featured floats by local authorities and uniformed and enforcement agencies, as well as cultural performances and fiery displays of might.
Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) staff Mohd Shafiq Shafie, 29, wearing traditional attire, was among those who took part in the parade.
“Each float highlights places of interest in respective municipalities and cities.
“This is a nice way to promote local tourism offerings while encouraging healthy competition among the councils,” he said.
Sharifah Ismail, who attended with her two daughters and baby grandchild, said National Day brought everyone together.
“We can see people from different races and religions celebrating in one place.”
However, as the family had to sit on the roadside to watch the parade, she hoped better facilities could be provided in future for families with young children.
Lim Zhi Hee, 24, who came with friends, made a similar suggestion, saying: “It would be better if there were more seating areas and wider space for people to stand and watch the parade.”
Kajang resident Evangeline Ng, 40, decided to check out the event after seeing advertisements about it.
“I was surprised to see so many people because Kajang is usually not that lively,” she said, hoping for continued harmony and unity, especially among Malaysian youths.
“Don’t let our differences divide us. Unity is what makes our country special,” she added.
Vichitra Alagan, 47, said seeing the event in person was a different experience from merely watching on TV.
“When you are here, you can hear the cheering, the people, the flags and feel the excitement,” she said.
