PUTRAJAYA: Private sponsorship for this year’s National Day celebration has surged, with the number of sponsors rising to 139 and contributions up 118% from last year, says Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
“This year, the number of sponsors has increased – 139 sponsors – and the amount collected and contributed has also risen, up 118% compared with last year,” he said. Fahmi was speaking to reporters after the first on-site training session for the human graphics performance at Dataran Putrajaya.
He said the celebration would carry several new features this year. Military and police assets would be displayed statically at Dataran Floria, the monument and Dataran Aman, letting visitors view them up close instead of waiting by the roadside.
Among the contingents taking part is the Johor Military Forces, which will join with its assets and a team of 100.
Fahmi said preparations were over 70% complete and expected to reach 80% to 90% within days, with the tiered stands and the Royal Box to be completed.
Full dress rehearsals will be held on Friday and Saturday, with the public invited to watch on Saturday. Sunday is a rest day for the participants before the celebration on Aug 31.
For those heading to Dataran Putrajaya, he said the MRT would run 24 hours on Aug 30 and 31, while free water taxis would again be offered for a third year running.
