PUTRAJAYA: The National Day celebration today will boost the determination of people to strengthen the unity between races, which is in line with the aspirations of Malaysia Madani.
With the theme "Malaysia Madani: Tekad Perpaduan, Penuhi Harapan" (Determination in Unity, Fulfilling Hope), this year's National Day is the 66th celebration, and Putrajaya is under the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
This year's celebration will be the fifth hosted by Putrajaya where performances, air shows and parades will be held to fuel the patriotic spirit.
It will also be the last National Day celebration under the reign of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, whose term ends on Jan 30.
The event will also showcase the Malaysia Madani concept mooted by Anwar in terms of dance and singing performances, as well as acrobatic acts by security forces and a parade.
A 30-minute Malaysia Madani performance will be the curtain-raiser for this year's celebration, which aims to attract 100,000 visitors.
The performance will start after the hoisting of the Jalur Gemilang and recitation of the Rukun Negara.
The beat of 400 drums and kompang, as well as the Achun Spinning Drum, which is making its first appearance, by drummers from various races, is expected to rock Dataran Putrajaya.
Their performance will be accompanied by 762 dancers from the National Department of Culture and Arts and 600 school students.
Two performances that will amaze visitors are the parachute event by six members of the police's VAT 69 commandos and an audacious motorcycle jump over 66 Royal Enfield motorcycles by the Army Red Warrior Motorcycle Acrobatic Team.
Unlike previous years, this year, the Unity Contingent will comprise 400 staff from the National Unity Ministry, as well as university students.
The parade, with the largest participation by the public contingent, which symbolises the emphasis on the unity of Malaysians in line with the theme of the celebration, will showcase the clothing of various races and ethnicities.
Their participation is under the Malaysia Madani Unity Contingent, which is one of the 10 contingent components, which include Nationhood, Economy, Banking, Telecommunications, Creative Industry and Broadcasting, Community, National Sports, National Wellbeing and Security.
Children will appreciate the presence of Agent Ali, Mechamato, Boboiboy Omar & Hana, Keluang Man and Tiong Man in the parade under the Creative and Broadcasting Industry Contingent.
Six tracker dogs from the dog unit of the Fire and Rescue Department that were used in search-and-rescue operations for victims of disasters, such as the landslide in Batang Kali, Selangor, last year, will make an appearance at the parade.
Meanwhile, more than 100 military assets will be be on display.
These include trailers carrying missiles and cannons, as well as the Gempita and Adnan armoured vehicles.
Air formation performances by air force aircraft will fill the Putrajaya airspace with the roaring sound of Sukhoi SU-30MKM and Hornet F/A-18D fighter jet engines. There will be a fly-by performed by aircraft and helicopters from security forces.