Malaysians Display 50 Years Of Unity At Merdeka Parade

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 (Bernama) -- It turned out to be a truly people's show at the 50th Merdeka gathering and parade here Friday morning, showcasing Malaysia as it truly is -- solidly based on goodwill and solidarity, economically strong and a friend to all.The thousands who were all around Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) and along the parade route saw the parade reflecting the five eras which established peace, progress and prosperity for the nation -- independence, development, unity, modernisation and excellence.

The celebration this morning, on the heels of the midnight heralding of a new period that builds upon five decades of glorious achievements, also showed that Malaysia's social contract is thriving, with people of all races and religions teaming together in performing various displays and in marching along in the massive parade.Together with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, and other Malaysian leaders were a host of foreign dignitaries from all over the world.

Themed "Malaysiaku Gemilang" (My Glorious Malaysia), the colourful and joyous two-hour parade comprising 25,000 participants kicked off at about 8.00am.Thousands of spectators began flocking to the square as early as 6am to witness the parade made up of 100 contingents from the public and private sectors, including 12,570 marchers, 14 floats, 25 military vehicles and a breathtaking aerial display performed by 52 aircraft.Among the foreign dignitaries present at the historic occasion were the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah; the Duke of York, Prince Andrew; Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; Thai Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Australian Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery.Asean leaders who converged on the square for the parade were Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Laotian Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla and a host of ambassadors. Also joining in the celebration was former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The national anthem "Negaraku" was played soon after Tuanku Mizan arrived at the square as five Royal Malaysian Air Force Nuri helicopters flew overhead bearing the Jalur Gemilang and Malaysian Armed Forces' (ATM) flags.The King then inspected a 107-member guard-of-honour.This was followed by hoisting of the Jalur Gemilang accompanied by Negaraku as a 14-gun salute boomed. Both parade participants and spectators then gave spirited renditions of patriotic songs such as "Jalur Gemilang", "Cemerlang, Gemilang, Terbilang" and the Merdeka celebration theme song "Malaysiaku Gemilang".Following this, all eyes were on 50 special education students who recited the Rukun Negara (national ideology) led by Syed Nur Khairin Al-Safi before breaking into shouts of Merdeka seven times.

The square then turned into a kaleidoscope of colours as the field presentation comprising 10,000 performers, a choir, drum beaters and members of the "integrated people's component", got underway.The performances depicted important events which had left indelible marks on Malaysia since it freed itself from the shackles of colonialisation 50 years ago.The performance by the 1,000-strong Malaysia Drum Symphony signified the spirit of unity among the country's various racial communities.

Fourteen helicopters, each flying a flag of a state in the federation, made a fly-past shortly after the parade themed on the eras of Malaysia's five prime ministers began.It started with the Era of Independence during Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj's time, the Development Era under Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the Era of Unity of Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Modernisation Era and the Era of Excellence under Abdullah.

The parade was fronted by 60 National Service (NS) Training Programme trainees who held aloft a Jalur Gemilang measuring 9m by 18m, and the marching band of the Royal Malay Regiment behind them.They were followed by two groups of NS trainees numbering 400 each carrying the national and state flags respectively.The Independence Era contingent comprised 100 Merdeka veterans, including 20 who rode in Bufori cars, and 1,000 members of Umno, MCA, MIC and political parties in Sabah and Sarawak behind them.They were followed by contingents from the Old Putra Association, National Warriors, ATM veterans, Commonwealth veterans from the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, and veterans of the Royal Malaysia Police, Homeguard, and Jungle Squad.

A float themed Nation and People Building co-ordinated by the Information Ministry then led 13 others in the parade.Next came the Development Era float themed Development under the New Economic Policy (NEP) prepared by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.Among the other contingents in this theme were those of the Industrial Training Institute, Agricultural Training Institute, Felda, Felcra, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry and Tabung Haji.

The Unity Era procession was made up of contingents from Kemas, Federal Territories and Permodalan Nasional Berhad as well as the PNB float.The Era of Modernisation had four floats, including the one on the oil and gas industry by Petronas and Proton's creation highlighting elements of the automotive industry.Others who took part under this category were the Public Service Department, International Trade and Industry Ministry, telecommunications and media companies as well as automotive companies.

The Era of Excellence procession began with the Economic Planning Unit's float carrying the National Mission theme of the Ninth Malaysia Plan followed by contingents from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department and the Anti-Corruption Agency.Others who were in it included the Education Ministry, Higher Education Ministry, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry, National Civics Bureau, Youth and Sports Ministry, Malaysian Youth Council and Mardi.The contingents from Khazanah Nasional, UEM Group and Johor Corp followed them and this was when the much-anticipated air show began.

The eye-catching Visit Malaysia 2007 float from the Tourism Ministry further enlivened the parade. It was followed by contingents from, among others, the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela), Civil Defence Department, Fire and Rescue Department, Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, Prisons Department and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).Behind them was the Royal Malaysia Police contingent which stole the crowd's attention as it had a 30-strong mounted unit and 24 dogs from its K-9 unit.Overhead, aircraft belonging to the Fire and Rescue Department, MMEA and police flew past.

The parade ended with the ATM contingent featuring 25 of its assets, including PT-91M "Twardy" tanks.Sonic booms sounded above, as just then, Royal Malaysian Air Force jets thundered across the Kuala Lumpur skies.Apart from MIG-29s, Hawks, F18s and C130 Hercules, three Sukhoi multi-role jet fighters that were only recently procured, demonstrated their prowess much to the delight of the crowd.Back on the ground, about 2,000 people assembled by the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry were involved in formation displays to the accompaniment of folk and patriotic songs.The national anthem was then played, symbolically ending the ceremony at Dataran Merdeka followed by the departure of the King and Queen.

-- BERNAMA