KOTA KINABALU: The 331-kilometre distance from Sandakan to the city centre did not stop a married couple from driving up to join the Malaysia Day 2024 celebrations at Padang Merdeka here last night.
Anita Ahmad, 50, who had only watched the glorious event on television, was determined to fulfill her and her husband's dream this year of witnessing the celebration in person and experiencing the 61st anniversary of the formation of Malaysia firsthand.
Anita, who works as a clerk, described their decision to celebrate Malaysia Day 2024 at the event's location as a worthwhile experience, despite the long journey.
She said watching a variety of performances, such as patriotic songs, dance shows, and fireworks involving a diverse community, made the trip worth it.
"I hope that the spirit of celebrating Malaysia Day will continue and grow stronger," she told Bernama when met.
Meanwhile, e-hailing driver Azizan Awang, 40, said that in addition to experiencing Malaysia Day "live" for the first time, he and his family wanted to see performances by guest artists such as Faizal Tahir, Stacy, and Akim.
Besides Malaysians, the celebration was also enlivened by the presence of foreign tourists, who expressed their excitement at witnessing the unique multicultural community celebrate this meaningful day.
Chinese tourist Xupeng Wang said it was his first experience witnessing such a celebration, and he was thrilled to experience it in person.
"Love the people, love the country, the vibes here are amazing," he said.
French tourist Juliette Gourlouen said the celebration felt very special and had an emotional impact on her.
"The people here are very nice, and we are so excited to join with the locals in celebrating this Malaysia Day," she said. – BERNAMA