IPOH: At least 500 people in colourful traditional clothing gathered to celebrate the annual Keretapi Sarong event.
Held for the second time in Ipoh, the event was held in conjunction with Malaysia Day, which falls on Sept 16.
Ipoh Social Club founder Deena Erissa Delaila Mohamad Zawawi said the crowd gathered as early as 8am at the Ipoh train station.
“Together with Locco (NGO), the event is also held in Kuala Lumpur and Johor. We have people from different races and religions gathering for the event.
“Besides the ‘Joget Lambak’ at the train station, we will walk together to a cafe in Ipoh’s old town and have a lucky draw session as well,” she told reporters at the train station here Saturday (Sept 16).
The Keretapi Sarong programme began around 2012 and has involved thousands of participants using public transport while wearing sarong or batik outfits or stickers that symbolise the multiracial heritage and culture in Malaysia.
This year's programme is organised with the cooperation of various parties, including the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, the Culture and Arts Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Rapid KL, AirAsia, Bulan Bintang and Mr DIY.
Clerk Zamrut Sulaiman, 41, woke up as early as 6am to get her family ready.
“We saw videos and pictures of last year’s event and decided to join this year together with our six-month-old baby.
“While I’m wearing the traditional baju kurung, my husband is donning the Indian kurta and our son is wearing the Chinese’s Tang suit.
“We spent about RM200 for the outfit. This is definitely a great event to have in Ipoh,” she said, adding that her in-laws will also be joining them.
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