Special Dance Performance On National Day Dedicated To Anwar’s Fight Against Corruption

Oleh Norhayati Mohd Akhir

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- For the first time in the country’s National Day celebration, this year’s celebration will have a performance segment featuring cleaning tools such as brooms and trash bins used as instruments in a dance performance.

This dance performance, with the title "Cuci Rasuah" (Eliminate Corruption)), is dedicated to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's fight against corruption.

The Artistic and Concept Director for the 2024 National Day celebration, Rosnan Nordin, said the dance performance, which is in the third segment and based on the “stompers” concept, aligns with this year's theme of “Malaysia MADANI: Jiwa Merdeka”.

It involves the participation of 515 dancers from the embers of the National Cultural and Arts Department (JKKN), he said.

The dance, he said, would be accompanied by a medley of several patriotic songs which have been shortened and set to an upbeat tempo, followed by a new song,  titled "Cuci Rasuah," which he co-wrote with composer Anuar Abdul Razak.

"This performance is a 'surprise' for the Prime Minister. I want to convey to the public Anwar's fight against corruption. So, through the dance movements, we aim to instil in the hearts of young people a deep hatred for corruption. We are using only brooms and trash bins," he said.

Rosnan, 59, said the use of the cleaning tools in the five-minute dance performance is to convey the message that corruption must be eliminated.

"The broom symbolises a tool to clean corruption until it is completely gone, and the trash bin is where this repulsive act, which is detested by society, should be discarded," he said.

Regarding the choice of colour for the dance performers, Rosnan said orange, which is the colour of the lock-up uniform, was chosen to symbolise criminal suspects detained by the authorities.

“This is not a mere performance to entertain the public, we want it to have an impact. Everything has been carefully planned to ensure the message we want to convey to the public is clear," he said.

Rosnan, born in Penang, said that he felt compelled to create the dance performance to show support for Anwar's noble efforts to eradicate corruption.

This project, he said,  will also be his final contribution before he retires next year, said Rosnan, who is JKKN Deputy Director-General (Culture and Arts).

The 2024 National Day parade will involve 17,262 participants, 67 contingents, 36 marching bands, 534 assets from the Malaysian Army and Royal Malaysian Air Force, as well as 100 service animals.

-- BERNAMA