PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim surprised spectators after the National Day parade when he left protocol behind to greet the public.
As he left the stands, he headed to the team of human graphics performers, congratulating them on their performance.
The performers comprised 1,500 pupils from 36 schools.
Along the way, Anwar stopped several times to greet members of the public, particularly children, with some receiving warm embraces from the Prime Minister.
The interactions drew cheers from the crowd, who welcomed Anwar as he made his way through the packed celebration area.
Reflecting on the celebrations, Anwar thanked the participants for their efforts and praised the performance.
"Thank God, good show. Thank you very much. Great, great show," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi described this year’s National Day celebration as exceptional, saying it was even better than previous years.
He attributed the improvement to the growing patriotic spirit among Malaysians, which was evident throughout the celebrations.
An estimated 100,000 people attended this year’s celebration at Dataran Putrajaya, according to Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
The school holidays and transport facilities provided by the organisers are believed to have contributed to the turnout.
