Saturday September 1, 2007
Malaysia puts on splendid show
KUALA LUMPUR: The clear blue skies made for a perfect setting as the 50th Merdeka Day parade got under way at Dataran Merdeka.
It was indeed a “feel good” day as 50 students, including four who were disabled, read the Rukunegara.
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In one spirit: Young spectators waving the Jalur Gemilang while watching the 50th Merdeka Day parade at Dataran Merdeka yesterday. |
So were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Cabinet ministers and other Barisan Nasional leaders.
Standing with the leaders on the main grandstand were former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
After the singing of the Negaraku, five Royal Malaysian Air Force Nuri helicopters flew past bearing the Jalur Gemilang and Malaysian Armed Forces flags.
The King inspected a 107-member First Battalion Royal Malay Regiment guard-of-honour.
The students led in seven shouts of Merdeka!, breaking the calm morning air.
There was a carnival mood thanks to the tens of thousands of Malaysians from all walks of life who turned up and foreigners wanting to get a taste of patriotic Malaysia.
Many arrived hours before the parade began at 8am, in a bid to get a vantage position.
There were those who did not want to take chances, choosing instead to camp outside the Sultan Abdul Samad building the night before just to make sure.
The Malaysiaku Gemilang parade began at Menara Dayabumi and ended at the Mara headquarters at Jalan Raja Laut.
Shutterbugs were kept busy, while others used their mobile phones to record the event.
And there were lots to “capture”, with the 24,300 participants keeping things lively throughout the two-hour parade with their colourful outfits.
The creatively designed floats, dance and musical performances, bands and clockwork marching were a sight to behold, with the crowd waving and cheering the participants on.
Needless to say, the dominating colours were that of the Jalur Gemilang – white, red, blue and yellow.
There were 12,570 marchers, 2,000 members of the “integrated people’s component”, 25 army vehicles, 14 floats and 52 aircraft participating.
The march past was divided into five eras of the past and present Prime Ministers – Tunku Abdul Rahman (independence), Tun Abdul Razak (development), Tun Hussein Onn (unity), Dr Mahathir (modernisation) and Abdullah (excellence).
Sixty National Service trainees, carrying a gigantic Jalur Gemilang, led the march past.
There were other “attractions” – MIG-29s, Hawks, F18s and C130 Hercules and three Sukhoi multi-role jet fighters, which soared in the skies above the square.
Later, Tuanku Mizan held a tea reception at Istana Melawati in Putrajaya for dignitaries, in conjunction with the event.
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