KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysians from all walks of life descended upon Dataran Merdeka today for Keretapi Sarong in conjunction with the 60th Hari Malaysia celebrations.
Everyone was decked out in traditional outfits to match the theme for this year’s event, which is “ethnicity”.
The flash mob event kicked off at 8.30am where participants got on rail transport to gather at a central location donning sarong-themed outfits .
Some of the participants traveled from across the country to participate in the event.
Friends Ainur Mariza Zawawi, and Mohd Hamirol Hisham Aminudin traveled all the way from Terengganu to be a part of the Keretapi Sarong festivities.
“This is our first time taking part, we have traveled from Terengganu to join our friend Wan Nur Afiqah just for this event.
“We’ve seen past editions online and when we saw this event was going to happen via social media we knew we just had to come down and join in,” said Ainur Mariza.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Izzdduin Ahmad Borhanudin, 36, – a first time participant – took his son Asyraff Zahin, 6, to Dataran Merdeka to expose him to Malaysia Day celebrations.
“I want to expose my child to Malaysia Day and Merdeka Day celebrations, I also want to show him the beauty of Dataran Merdeka.
“When you look around, one can clearly see the harmony and understanding that Malaysians have for each other to celebrate Hari Malaysia together,” he told Scoop when met at Dataran Merdeka.
Malaysians even took the opportunity to introduce the festivities to their foreign friends.
University Malaya students Wan Nor Fatimah Wan Mohd Fadzlullah and Tessa Humbising, both 21-years-old, took the opportunity to expose their Japanese classmates to Hari Malaysia Festivities.
“We had taken them for Merdeka Day celebrations before this and now we want to show them Hari Malaysia festivities,” said Wan Nor Fatimah.
Nanoha Yoshimi (20), Kotome Honda (19), Miyu Moriwaki (20), Rio Kuwata (19), Honoka Nishiuke (20), Chino Yamashita (21) were all sporting sarongs borrowed from friends.
Twenty -year-old student Dina Zaidi took the opportunity to showcase Sarawakian culture by donning a beautiful Baju Iban set.
“I just want to show that Sarawakian culture is very beautiful, this is my first time wearing this outfit. Before this I’ve worn baju Bidayuh so I decided to switch this time.
“These days we are too busy with our lives to enjoy these types of celebrations.
“It is Malaysia Day… as Malaysians we need to embed the Malaysian spirit in ourselves so why not celebrate this country together,” said Dina who has lived in Sarawak for 15 years.
Meanwhile, in Johor Bahru around 600 people took to the streets in Sungai Segget to participate in Keretapi Sarong celebrations.
In Ipoh, around 500 participants from Perak, Kedah dan Pulau Pinang gathered at the Ipoh train station.
Keretapi Sarong is a flash mob event to celebrate Hari Malaysia, where participants would gather at a central location dressed in their sarongs or traditional attire.
It also emphasises the use of public transportation in Malaysia, especially the rail system hence the name Keretapi (train).
The event which first began in 2017 has been an annual affair since. – September 16, 2023