MELAKA, Sept 2 (Bernama) — 60s fashion and ethnic costumes have been selected as the theme of the Malaysia Day celebration which will be observed on Sept 16, said Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
He said that the elements were chosen to evoke nostalgia when Malaysia was formed in September 1963.
“It is even more special when this celebration will be held at the Independence Declaration Memorial Square in Banda Hilir, a historic site which was the location of the proclamation of the country’s independence before it was celebrated in Kuala Lumpur.
“For that reason, special guests and visitors are encouraged to don their respective traditional and ethnic costumes, especially those from the past,” he said at a press conference after co-chairing the national level committee meeting for the Malaysia Day 2022 celebration with Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali at Seri Negeri here. today.
He said that in addition to dressing up in traditional costumes, the surrounding area of Banda Hilir will also be decorated with memorabilia to evoke the atmosphere of the past as this is the first celebration to be held in an open arena following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For the props (decoration) we leave it to the state organisers and will definitely display the main icons of Melaka without leaving out the characteristics of the involvement of other states.
“I believe the presence of 2,000 distinguished guests including the Prime Minister, Premier of Sarawak, and Chief Minister of Sabah who will arrive in the rickshaws which have become the icon of Melaka city, will be the focus of visitors who are expected to reach tens of thousands on the eve of the celebration,” he said.
He added that several tradition-infused events including the arrival of the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam and the symbolic signing of the book commemorating the declaration of Malaysia Day will also be held.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency