KEPALA BATAS: In 2021, Ibrahim Yahya started a tradition for Merdeka Day.
He decorated the front of his house as well as both sides of a 40m-stretch from his house leading into Kampung Dua Puluh, Pasir Gebu, near here, with up to 800 Jalur Gemilang and Penang flags of various sizes.
His patriotic deed drew huge crowds to the village, with many shutterbugs clicking away to get picture perfect shots.
In 2022, Ibrahim did the same thing. Sadly, however, he died due to an illness just before Malaysia Day that year.
To keep his spirit alive, his two children have been continuing with their father's legacy the last couple of years.
According to Ibrahim's eldest son, Muhammad Rizal Ibrahim, 34, they intend to continue with their father's intentions for as long as they can.
"This was our late father's idea. He was the one who instilled in us the Merdeka spirit and we will continue to spread it.
"What started only among our own family, has since spread to the local community as well.
"This year, some of our neighbours also came to help us to decorate the street outside our houses. From the initial 40m-stretch, we have increased it to more than 100m.
"Some of our neighbours even decorated their own houses. Our intention is to put up an arch next year and add in more flags, making it an even grander affair," he told the New Straits Times when met at his house today.
Rizal, together with his 31-year-old sister Noor Rahimah Ibrahim, with the help of neighbours, put up the finishing touches to their Merdeka decorations.
This year, they also put up some 800 flags, many of which were also donated by neighbours.
It took them about a week to put up all the flags.
This year, Rizal, Rahimah and their neighbours even bought the same T-shirt to be donned on Merdeka Day.
Rizal said, since last year, his 20 neighbours had also came together for the Ambang Merdeka celebration, a tradition they would continue this year too.