KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (Bernama) — An all-woman brass band from the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) is set to hog the limelight at the 2022 National Day parade at Dataran Merdeka here on Wednesday.
It will be a refreshing sight of 30 women soldiers marching down the street, displaying their skills in playing various musical instruments.
Royal Signals Regiment (RSD) brass band officer Lt Nurul Fatin Hajar Ismadi said it is an honour for the band to participate in the main celebration to mark National Day, as it shows that women soldiers possess other skills apart from their role in defending the country.
“This band was formed in 2015 and made its first public appearance at the Army Day celebration in 2016.
“After that, we participated in the National Day parade in 2019, before the country was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic,” she told Bernama recently.
Fatin said the band was looking forward to its participation in the National Day celebration on Aug 31.
RSD brass band drum major Staff Sergeant Farziana Adam said it was challenging for women band members as they have to carry heavy musical instruments while strutting their staff in a parade.
“The band consists of married women, and they have to sacrifice their time and energy juggling between family responsibilities and work commitments.
“It is a challenge for women to strike a balance between career and family. As the only all-woman uniformed brass band in Malaysia, we intend to make ourselves better known and inspire other women to venture into the military musical arena,” she added.
The band also participated in the opening ceremonies of the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games in 2017.
A brainchild of 25th Chief of Army Gen Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor, the Sungai Besi-based band was established by then Chief Signals Officer Maj Gen Datuk Ahmad Hadiatullah Maknun Ridzuan.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency