PUTRAJAYA – The National Day celebrations at Dataran Putrajaya today were a first for many people, both Malaysians and foreigners alike.
Scoop spoke to several attendees today, all of whom were excited and happy to witness a thrilling parade with their family and friends.
A retired civil servant named Sherry, 59, said that although she works in Putrajaya, she has never attended the National Day festivities in person.
“I always watch (the parade) through my TV, because it is often overcrowded. This is my first time going in person.”
The now-businesswoman donned a self-made baju kebaya along with her friends, Jay and Feeda, in the spirit of unity.
Sherry also said they arrived at an already-crowded spot at 5.30am, lauding those who had set up camp earlier.
Meanwhile, a travelling couple from England, Jacob and Emma, said they enjoyed seeing the local fighter jets for the first time.
Although they expected to see coloured smoke emitting from the jets, Jacob, who is half Malaysian, said seeing the planes going past was just as amazing.
A group of students from Intec Education College – Nurin, Aini, Marsya, Nurul, and Izzah – also shared that this year’s parade was their first.
The group considered themselves late to the celebrations, despite having arrived at 3am. As such, they said they would come to the next parade ready with umbrellas and stools.
Similarly, first-timer Maria said she and her family would come better prepared next year, after being left at the back during the parade.
“Since this is our first time, we don’t know what (we) must bring, or which parts (of Dataran Putrajaya) we should set up. We thought we prepared enough, but apparently not,” she said.
Nevertheless, Maria’s mother, Bungan, panned the lack of facilities for families with children.
“(The organisers) should have prepared a room for kids to sleep in, so maybe their parents can care for them.
“But they (have to) bring their children in strollers and lay on the floors – it’s not kid-friendly,” she said, adding that this deterred her from bringing her children to Merdeka celebrations in years’ past.
Likewise, a clerk named James criticised how the queues for the spectator seats were not regulated.
He lamented how he and his family had to queue up in the rain since midnight, only for the seats to be taken by people who cut ahead.
“We came at 12.30am but did not manage to get any chairs. Some guys climbed behind the stage and just sat down.
“I bought raincoats for the whole family when we queued. It was wasted anyway,” he said, suggesting that there should be better management in the future.
Meanwhile, his son, Darvin, said he was happy to perform for the first time this year, and hoped he can participate in the Western Dance contingent again. – August 31, 2023
