The man with the vision: Rosnan giving artistic directions to participants at the National Day dress rehearsal. — Bernama
PUTRAJAYA: Being disabled has not prevented Rosnan Nordin, artistic and concept director of the National Day 2023 celebration, from carrying out his tasks and ensuring that all the plans go smoothly.
Rosnan, who is also the deputy director-general (culture and arts) of the National Department for Culture and Arts, said he was proud to be the first person with disabilities (OKU) to be in charge of the whole concept of the celebration.
The 58-year-old Penang native, when met by Bernama, said he had his left leg amputated last June due to a bacterial infection.
“I always hold on to the principle of ‘passion to work for the country, not for recognition’.
“If I sought recognition, I don’t think I would be able to fulfil the trust in my current physical condition,” said Rosnan, who often steals attention when he appears on the main stage in a wheelchair overseeing the participants practising for the celebration at Dataran Putrajaya here.
Rosnan, who has been involved in planning National Day celebrations for the past 20 years, said he and his team would usually begin conceptualising the event a year in advance.
“The planning for this year’s event began immediately after the National Day 2022 celebration was concluded. As in previous years, the National Day and Malaysia Day celebration working committee will ask me to come up with a concept,” said Rosnan, who is assisted by 60 staff members.
According to him, every year, the chosen theme would serve as the “soul” of the celebration and would be interpreted in every facet of the event, from the song and dance performances to acrobatic displays by security personnel, and the parade.
He said for this year’s celebration, which carries the theme “Malaysia Madani: Tekad Perpaduan Penuhi Harapan (Determination in Unity, Fulfilling Hope)”, the “unity contingent” will comprise 1,000 participants of various ethnicities from the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak.
The parade will also feature an economic contingent made up of government-linked companies, government-linked investment companies, and telecommunication and banking companies.
Rosnan said the event on Aug 31 would also feature various other interesting performances, including a parachute display by the Royal Malaysia Police’s VAT69 commandos, adding that over 19,000 participants would be involved.
This will be Putrajaya’s fifth time hosting the National Day celebration after 2003, 2005, 2018 and 2019.
