Chenetriah Rashid,60, (on the wheelchair) arrived from as early as 5am from Penang.
IPOH: Housewife Intan Iliya Iziyana Mohd Saidi took her two children, Cinta Ildina, four, and Cinta Meldina, two, to watch the National Day parade dressed in clothes featuring colours of the Jalur Gemilang in front of Ipoh Town Hall here.
Her two sisters also brought their own children as well to get the best spot.
“It is our tradition to dress our children in Merdeka-themed clothes each year since 2020,” the 30-year-old said.
Intan’s sisters, Ezzety Diana Mohd Saidi, 41, and Idayu Azween Mohd Saidi, 37, brought their children, Aisy Eryana Darwisya Shahrul Anuar, six, and Muhd Aidil Danial Haszeul, nine, respectively.
“We find joy in dressing up our children,” said Intan, adding they spent between RM80 and RM400 to make the clothes.
The celebration was graced by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.
About 600 people from 108 contingents took part in the parade. They hailed from state agencies, private bodies, non-governmental organisations, learning institutions and school marching bands.
Constance Essein, 20, a foreign student from a private institution said that she arrived at 6.30am to witness Malaysia's National Day celebrations for the first time.
Despite being wheelchair-bound, 60-year-old Chenetriah Rashid, came as early as 5am to book a good spot to view the parade.
Her husband Mohd Patthi Abd Ghani, 64, and daughter Nor Kamilia Mohd Patthi, 34, had travelled from Penang as she wanted to see the Perak Royal family.
“I’m extremely happy that I got the chance to experience the National Day celebrations. It’s my very first time.
“We had initially planned to attend the celebration in Putrajaya, hoping to witness the event in the presence of the King,” she said.
“We were actually on our way to Putrajaya when I fell ill. So we changed our plans and came to Ipoh instead,” she added.
Student Constance Essein, 20, from Ghana, was also delighted to experience the parade.
“It’s my first time here (in Malaysia) and I have not witnessed another country’s National Day, so I wanted to experience it,” she said.
