Malaysians In Thailand Mark National Day With Unity, Patriotism And Cultural Pride

By Kenny Teng & Noor Bakhtiar Ahmad

BANGKOK, Aug 31 (Bernama) -- With nasi lemak taking pride of place and patriotic songs ringing out, the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok’s 68th National Day celebration brought the diaspora together in a show of unity and belonging.

Dressed in batik, baju Melayu, baju kurung and kebaya, about 300 Malaysians gathered at a Bangkok hotel to mark this year’s celebration.

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Opening with “Negaraku”, the programme flowed into spirited takes on “Tanggal 31” and “Saya Anak Malaysia”, before a children’s cultural performance added a burst of colour.

A spread of Malaysian favourites, from nasi lemak and roti canai to roti jala, mee kari and goreng pisang, brought the flavour of home to the event.

First-time participant Ahmad Hashim Mahmood said he was impressed to see so many Malaysians donning traditional attire for the occasion.

Ahmad Hashim, who assumed duty as Minister at the Malaysian Embassy in July, said the celebration was lively and that he enjoyed meeting members of the Malaysian diaspora in Bangkok.

“This is my first time celebrating Independence Day in Bangkok... I can see true unity, identity and a strong effort to display patriotism to the nation. It is very heartwarming and meaningful,” he told Bernama here on Sunday.

He added that the ceremony also helped to instil a sense of patriotism among Malaysian children living in Thailand.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to Thailand, Bong Yik Jui, urged Malaysians in Thailand to embrace the spirit of independence and ensure that the sense of freedom and love for the homeland endures.

“This is a unique, harmonious and meaningful celebration that reminds us that freedom does not come easily. This is a heritage that all Malaysians should value and defend together,” he said.

In conjunction with the celebration, the National Day Message will be displayed on the giant LED screen at CentralWorld, Thailand’s largest shopping mall, from 7 am to midnight, three times every hour.

The Jalur Gemilang will also be prominently displayed on the giant LED screen at Siam Paragon and atop the iconic Baiyoke Tower II in Bangkok.

Meanwhile, in BUDAPEST, the Embassy of Malaysia in Budapest hosted a Malaysia MADANI Gathering on Saturday to mark the 68th National Day and 62nd Malaysia Day.

In a statement, the embassy said the programme began at 6pm local time to coincide with Malaysia’s midnight Merdeka countdown, and was held in the spirit of this year’s theme, “Malaysia MADANI, Rakyat Disantuni,.

The programme brought together Malaysians from across Hungary to mark the twin occasions and reaffirm community unity and pride.

Chargé d’Affaires of Malaysia in Hungary, Vanitha Gopalakrishnan, in her remarks, urged Malaysians to remain proud of their homeland and expressed appreciation for the community’s achievements in Hungary, particularly in education, professional employment, and contributions that bring pride to the nation.

She added that gatherings like these not only mark national milestones but also strengthen bonds among Malaysians abroad.

An array of Malaysian delicacies, from satay and rendang to mee goreng, ayam percik, kerabu and spring rolls, brought a comforting taste of home.

The Ambang Merdeka celebration also featured a Danube River cruise, where participants waved flags and shared the independence spirit, blending Malaysian traditions with a distinctly Hungarian setting.

-- BERNAMA