‘Keretapi Sarong’ to chug its way into National Month next year

KUALA LUMPUR: The organiser of the “Keretapi Sarong” programme is ready to cooperate, including holding discussions with the Communications and Digital Ministry to make it part of the activities in conjunction with next year’s National Month.

Programme organiser Shamsul Bahrin Zainuzzaman welcomed Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil’s proposal regarding the matter.

He said he was always open to collaborating with any party to expand the event nationwide.

“Insha-Allah, if the intention is to try and take unity to a greater level, we are open to cooperating and accepting proposals from any party because this is the people’s event and (the organiser) will return it to the people who have been responsible for making it a success right from the start,” he told Bernama.

Fahmi said the programme that took place on Saturday received an encouraging response with the participation of over 10,000 people of various ages and races.

“It crossed my mind that we might discuss with organisers about including the programme as part of the activities for the National Month in the future.

“I hope that next year, we can plan more programmes for the National Month so that it won’t involve just flying the Jalur Gemilang flag,” he told reporters after the national-level Malaysia Day celebrations at Unity Stadium in Kuching, Sarawak.

The Keretapi Sarong 2023 programme, with its theme of “Ethnicity and Unity”, aimed to instil a love for the country through diversity in conjunction with the Malaysia Day celebrations.

It was organised by Locco, an NGO that has been promoting cultural activities through Keretapi Sarong since 2017.

The programme this year was also held simultaneously in five major cities across Malaysia and England, namely Johor Baru (along Sungai Segget); Kota Baru (LaRocka Park); Ipoh (KTMB Ipoh); Kuala Terengganu (Kampung Budaya Terengganu) and in Battersea Power Station (London, United Kingdom).