Independence Day Celebration Embellished With Flying 'Jalur Gemilang'

By Noor Bakhtiar Ahmad and Nadia Jumri KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysians in the Klang Valley (an area comprising Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs, and adjoining cities and towns in the state of Selangor) have taken their own initiative to decorate their houses and business premises with the "Jalur Gemilang" (Malaysian flag) to enliven the 55th Merdeka Day (Independence Day) celebration on Aug 31. A check by Bernama showed houses and business premises as well as roads in several areas such as Sentul, Setapak, Merdeka Square, Brickfields and Sungai Buloh decorated with the Malaysian flag. Some people, besides flying the flag, also took the initiative to include the theme 'Promises Fulfilled' and the number "55" denoting the anniversary in their creative pieces. A part-time deejay, Jamaldin Wahab, 42, had decorated his house compound with the flags and placed the slogan 'Promises Fulfilled' on the roof of his house. "I used bamboo to form the words 'Promises Fulfilled' and then used the Jalur Gemilang to decorate the words," he told Bernama in his village of Kampung Setia, Kuang, Sungai Buloh. Furthermore, he also created the number "55" by using plywood and placed it in front of the house. "This is my contribution to enliven the Merdeka Day celebration this year. I started to decorate the house compound during the Ramadan fasting month, and it took me three to four days to complete it. "The spirit to celebrate Merdeka day should continue to ensure that it will not be missed in the community, especially among the younger generation," he said, adding that he received the cooperation of family members to complete the decoration. Yahya Ngah, 49, also in Kampung Setia, decorated the 'Wau Bulan' (moon kite) with the Jalur Gemilang pattern. "This is an idea my wife and I came up with. The Wau Bulan is synonymous with Kelantan state. Thus, I used it as part of the decoration in front of my house," said the Kelantanese. Yahya said he was now planning to make the '1Malaysia' logo by using balloons to add to the celebration of Merdeka Day. "I hope the 'cheerful' atmosphere in my house compound will help to kindle community spirit for others to join in the flying of the Malaysian Flag, or do anything at all to join in the celebration," he said. A police retiree, Mohamad Zailan Mohamad Yusoff, 53, took the initiative to install small flags around his house compound in Kampung Setia. "This is a way to instill values ​in youths today to boost the spirit and support for the nation during the Merdeka celebration. "When I install the flag in front of the house, it is with pride that I do so. When the children are together and get involved, greater patriotism is instilled in them," he said. He said the atmosphere during the Merdeka celebration in his time was extremely different from today's, whereby patriotism was greatly felt when the occasion was celebrated together at Merdeka Square. "I still remember the time when my parents took me to Merdeka Square for the celebration. That is what I try to teach my children so that our history of independence will not be forgotten easily," he said. -- BERNAMA