KUALA LUMPUR: With the Merdeka parade making a comeback this year after muted 63rd and 64th Merdeka celebrations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Dataran Merdeka has been a hive of activity.
Checks on social media early this morning found many had started making their way to Dataran Merdeka for the 65th Independence Day celebration as early as 5am.
At 8.05am, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah arrived in a royal horse-drawn carriage from Menara DBKL to Dataran Merdeka.
This was followed by five helicopters carrying the Jalur Gemilang and the firing of 14 cannons representing the 14 states in Malaysia by the 41st ceremonial battery of the Royal Artillery Regiment led by Lieutenant Colonel Mohamad Asri Che Wil.
The national anthem Negaraku then played, simultaneously with the raising of the Jalur Gemilang accompanied by 65 musicians from the RTM Orkestra led by RTM Music Director Datuk Mokhzani Ismail.
After Negaraku, this year's National Day theme song Keluarga Malaysia Teguh Bersama was sung by the audience along with a line-up of 12 local artists.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob arrived at 7.45am
Also present were Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin, and Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
It is estimated that over 50,000 visitors have gathered at Dataran Merdeka today.
The celebration is seeing the involvement of over 16,000 participants for both the performances and the parade itself, including 369 land assets and 68 air assets from various agencies as well as 76 animals from the K9 unit.
With the theme 'Keluarga Malaysia Teguh Bersama', many are seen wearing traditional attire symbolising Malaysia's patriotic theme.