IF there is one thing Malaysians look forward to for Hari Kebangsaan, it is the release of patriotic ads or short films during the month of August.
Be it heartwarming or humorous short films, they certainly have a way of instilling national pride, as each video highlights what truly brings us together as Malaysians.
Here is a list of must-watch Hari Kebangsaan ads of 2022 (in no particular order):
1. Kes #065 - Roti Canai Cili Sos vs. The People by Yoodo
This year, Yoodo welcomes Hari Kebangsaan with a hilarious depiction of Malaysian food combos — and this particular case sees Amir put on trial after he is accused of being in contempt of 'Akta Kombo Makanan 1991'. Faced by a jury of his fellow restaurant patrons, Amir is forced to defend his preferred food combination, but eventually reveals a surprising twist.
2. The Turning Point by Axiata Group
Hailing from an Orang Asli Che Wong village, Intan is gifted a book on how to start a business. This ignites a fire within her as she puts what she learns into practice, grasping the opportunity at hand to build a business that helps her community rise as one. Eventually, she even gets recognised as a top graduate with a place in the Axiata University Leadership Development Programme.
3. Di Mana Saja, Kita Satu Keluarga by Perodua
Perodua highlights Malaysians' idiosyncrasies in their Hari Kebangsaan and Malaysia Day video. From the "power" of the hand to get attention at a restaurant, to Malaysians' common love for durian, the ad just goes to show how these unique characteristics of Malaysians create a family-like bond.
4. Dulu, Kini, Selalu F&N by F&N
When a young boy discovers a jar of bottlecaps in a cupboard, his grandfather proceeds to explain to the boy about the significance of his collection. He reminisces about the time when he was a young boy, and how he met the boy's grandmother back then. From playing 'ceper' with the bottlecaps to watching wayang pacak with her, the short film brings viewers on a nostalgic journey back to their childhood days.
5. Ibu: Kisah Seorang Tokoh Kemerdekaan by TM Group
TM pays tribute to unsung Malaysian hero, Tan Sri Hajah Zainon Binti Sulaiman, also known as Ibu Zain, told through her daughter, Pn Fadzillah Amin (Tok Lah). Her story is brought to life with wayang kulit, as 14 children from each state in the nation were invited to watch the heartwarming presentation about the true meaning of independence. They soon learn that her wisdom, courage and strength is inspirational for every Malaysian.
6. Nasi Lemak Sebuah Kenangan by Beras Era
Nasi Lemak is a delicacy most Malaysians enjoy, and is the heart of this Hari Kebangsaan video. After 20 years of being away from his home country, Eric and his wife return to Malaysia and pay a visit to his childhood friend, Adli. Together with their mutual friends, they reconnect and bond as they feast on a spread of nasi lemak, lamb and sambal petai.
7. Celoteh Merdeka by Air Selangor
How would a child explain the concept of Merdeka? Air Selangor takes it upon themselves to find out, as five children, Mei Ling, Muthu, Nurul, Sara and Ali are asked about former prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, and how he managed to achieve independence for Malaysia.
8. Moving Forward with You by CIMB
There is no doubt that we have faced many challenges due to the pandemic. In CIMB's video, it highlights Malaysians' resilience in dealing with difficult situations. No matter the odds, we will continue to push forward, and it is much easier when we do it by working together.
9. Teguh Bersama by RHB
Primary school students Lee May and Nazri are selected as the leaders for their class art project, whereby they are required to paint a mural on the school building. However, both leaders are at odds with each other, which eventually ensues in a fight. Will the children be able to put aside their differences and come together for their love for the country?
10. Bahagia Kita by Celcom Axiata
Haikal is at a loss when he is required to determine what 'Merdeka' means to him in the form of poetry for his schoolwork. He sets out on his scooter to find out exactly what it means to him. Along the way, he comes across plenty of characters who show him that 'Merdeka' means much more than freedom from foreign rule.
11. Syair by PayNet
A young boy named Frankie Wong moves from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, and finds himself in a new home and school. As he faces challenges in adapting to his surroundings, he befriends three boys and begins to learn more about Terengganu culture, as well as Malay poetry, syair.
12. #AnakAnakMalaysia 2022 by EcoWorld
EcoWorld wishes to provide local merchants a platform to showcase their work with #AnakAnakMalaysia, as the campaign shines a spotlight on #GENERASiSENSASi, which is making a difference in the local and international art scene with their craftsmanship. Through a series of videos, Malaysian SMEs from around the nation are featured, along with their locally made products. Watch the full series here.
13. Show & Tell by Taylor's University
A teacher asks her primary school students to draw their inventions that would help Malaysia progress. As the students proudly display their ideas from tall skyscrapers to bridges that would stretch miles across, Haziq shows us that our future is not about what we make. It is who we make it for.
14. Sejauh manakah...? by MBSB Bank
In order to test Malaysians' care for others, this Hari Kebangsaan ad comes in the form of a social experiment. It shows a taxi driver moving his broken-down vehicle across traffic-congested roads with great difficulty. What ensues is a heartwarming sight, as Malaysians do not hesitate to come forward and help the taxi driver.
15. Gemilang Tradisi Malaysia by Samsung
The search for Jalur Gemilang brings Sofya and her older brother across many places, from the local kedai runcit to the gift shop at the museum. Although they were unable to find one until much later, they learn valuable lessons from other Malaysians about the importance of appreciating traditions, being kind to others and fostering a sense of patriotism for our country.
16. 3 Sekawan by Media Prima
In this four-part miniseries, childhood friends Faiz, Ah Chong and Danush get together at their village to celebrate Hari Kebangsaan. After hatching a mischievous plan that could mean freedom for everything, once and for all, chaos soon descends on the village as the three friends try to make everything right before the big day rolls around. Watch the three-part series here.
17. Generasi Anak Hebat! by Dugro
Accompanied by a slightly tweaked version of 'Saya Anak Malaysia', the young children in this Hari Kebangsaan ad are asked about their ambitions when they grow up. Instead of focusing on listing down occupations only, the children showcase the values they wish to incorporate along with their ambitions.