Colours of 2025 National Day parade light up patriotic souls

The spirit of Malaysia Madani burned brightly as people from all walks of life thronged Dataran Putrajaya for the 2025 National Day celebration, which was marked with great enthusiasm and vibrant colours.

Carrying the theme "Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni", the 68th edition of the celebration reflected the nation’s enduring spirit of unity, brought to life through ceremonial events, captivating performances, and parades that highlighted the strength and resilience of the Malaysian people.

Festivities began as early as 6.30 am with the arrival of distinguished guests, culminating in the arrival of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar,

The king made a grand entrance at 8am by driving a blue Proton Satria Neo bearing the registration number WWW 1, accompanied by Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah.

The celebration was also attended by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Ministers Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Fadillah Yusof, cabinet ministers, including Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, as well as diplomats and foreign dignitaries.

The prestigious event commenced with the singing of the national anthem “Negaraku” and the ceremonial raising of the Jalur Gemilang, accompanied by a 14-gun salute symbolising the unity of Malaysia’s 14 states. The salute was executed by the 41st Battery of the Royal Artillery Regiment, led by Hafizan Mat Ghani.

The event continued with the recitation of the Rukun Negara pledge, led by Firdaus Arbaain - the national hero who rescued victims of a boat capsize in Teluk Batik, Perak, on Aug 28, 2023. For his bravery, he was awarded the Pingat Jasa Perkasa Persekutuan by the king this year.

The atmosphere was further enlivened by a special appearance from renowned singer Siti Nurhaliza, who performed the official theme song for the 2025 National Day and Malaysia Day celebration, "Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni". Thousands of visitors sang along, creating a moment of unity and pride.

Following the performance - which carried a powerful message of well-being and national solidarity - the celebration proceeded with a grand parade featuring 81 contingents comprising 14,062 participants, 21 marching bands, seven decorated floats, 508 land and air assets, and 116 animals in public service.

Parade and procession

The parade and procession were divided into six main segments: nationhood, people’s parade, well-being, national security, air show, and the special Madani performance.

The event was further enhanced by a human-graphic and choir presentation involving 2,000 students from 50 secondary schools across Selangor and the Federal Territory.

Leading the procession was the Army Music Training Centre band, consisting of an officer and 45 members, under the direction of Khairul Anuar Hasan.

The excitement of the visitors was evident as many eagerly recorded every moment of the parade, particularly when the broadcasting and creative industry contingents made their appearance.

The Bernama contingent drew special attention, alongside popular local mascots such as Didi & Friends, Mechamato, Boboiboy, Papazola, Ejen Ali, Omar & Hana, as well as well-known local artistes, much to the delight of the crowd.

The sports contingent was another highlight, featuring Malaysia’s first chess Grandmaster Yeoh Li Tian, Para Swimming World Cup champion Duran Yaspi Imam Basori, and the 2025 Deaf SEA Games gold medalists. The crowd erupted in cheers, reflecting the nation’s pride and appreciation for their achievements on the international stage.

The wellness component followed, showcasing members of the civil service, including disabled personnel from 30 ministries and agencies such as the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, the Malaysian Volunteers Department, the Immigration Department, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Fire and Rescue Department, and the Malaysian Chemistry Department.

The K9 dog unit and the cavalry contingent were crowd favourites, drawing smiles and admiration as spectators marvelled at the discipline and charm of the animals, in addition to the special appearance of the Malaysia Civil Defence Force’s famous “oyen” cat.

National heroes and assets

Cheers grew louder as the national security components paraded with vehicle assets through Dataran Putrajaya, especially when seeing the sight of the strong and powerful national heroes and the elegance of the heroines from the Malaysian Armed Forces.

At this year’s celebration, the armed forces presented a special bagpipe performance for the very first time. The show featured a powerful combination of high-tension drums, tenor drums, bass drums, and drum majors, creating a captivating rhythm.

The performance was further enlivened by coordinated dance movements set to some of Sultan Ibrahim’s favourite songs, including “Anak Kampung” and “Lemak Manis”.

The much-anticipated air show component drew thunderous cheers from the audience, who were mesmerised by the precision and skill of the pilots. Leading the formation was Norazlan Aris, who piloted a Su-30MKM fighter jet at the head of a 30-aircraft formation featuring F/A-18D Hornets and Airbus A400M transport aircraft.

The 2025 National Day celebration concluded with the vibrant Citra Madani performance, showcasing traditional dances representing Malaysia’s diverse cultural heritage. The performance served as a powerful symbol of unity and harmony, values that have long been the foundation of the nation.

Although the main celebration was centred in Putrajaya, National Day festivities were also held across the country in various forms, reflecting the deep patriotic spirit and sense of togetherness shared by Malaysians.

- Bernama

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