Proud mum: Hanim with her sons Rayfal (left) and Rayyan at the Batu Maung KRT.
GEORGE TOWN: Six-year-old Rayfal Azlan practised singing Negaraku every day for a whole month before he was ready to sing the national anthem with his friends.
His mother Hanim Ismail, 38, said he had been looking forward to it and even went to sleep early the night before to make sure that he got up on time.
“He had been practising to make sure he got it right when singing with his kindergarten friends.
“As a mother it is always nice to see your child happy and taking part in activities,” she said when met at the Batu Maung Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT), where the National Day month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang 2022 celebration was taking place in Taman Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas.
Hanim, a housewife, also brought along her older son Rayyan Azlan, eight, to enjoy the festivities at the event, which included dance performances with the national flag, zumba and a lucky draw, with rations being given out by the KRT and MCA.
“I live nearby so it is great to have events like this held here where I can just walk over with my children.
“My son goes to the kindergarten next to the KRT, but I never had time to interact with other parents as we are always rushing off.
“Today, I managed to speak to the other mothers and make some new friends,” she said.
The event organised by the KRT was for the families living nearby to gather and celebrate the upcoming National Day.
Its chairman Lim Chiang Keong said there were many activities including an aerobics session and singing of the national anthem, while goodie bags sponsored by the KRT and MCA were given away as well.
“We are giving out the 50 goodie bags through a lucky draw as there were around 200 people at the event,” he said.
Lim added that the KRT would usually hold multiple events every year.
“Sometimes we hold up to six events, usually a few months apart.
“It is for the residents here because mingling as a community is important and these events bring everyone together.
“It keeps everyone active as well, like the aerobics event which had over 60 participants,” he said.
MCA spokesperson and Bayan Baru MCA coordinator Saw Yee Fung said it was nice to see a multiracial community gathering to celebrate the country’s independence.
“I hope this year we go back to being a harmonious community where we think of ourselves as Malaysians first.
“Events like these make a difference as it brings everyone together to celebrate being Malaysian,” she said.
