July 28, 2010 16:11 PM
By Adnan Jahaya
KANGAR, July 28 (Bernama) -- As for a paddy planter, Salleh Morad, 65, the Jalur Gemilang is very meaningful to him because he had lived under the British occupation before the nation gained independence on 31 August 1957.
"I don't want the flag to change again. Let the Jalur Gemilang fly everywhere. Jalur Gemilang will be meaningless if we are to be colonised again," he said.
"Don't feel shy to fly the national flag. We are an independent nation. Because of independence, we are better off now," he said referring to Fly the Jalur Gemilang Campaign in conjunction with the 2010 Merdeka Month Celebration.
Come August 1, Perlis' landscape will be inundated with Jalur Gemilang in numerous ways as the smallest state in Malaysia has been chosen to launch the 2010 Merdeka Month Celebration.
PEOPLE CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW THEIR PATROTISM
Like Salleh, the people in Perlis highly appreciate the spirit of independence with some already putting up the Jalur Gemilang at their homes while the Perlis state government has made preparations for the inaugural launch.
The main stadium here is set to see 20,000 people, mostly from Perlis, for the launching of the event by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on August 1.
"This is an honour for Perlis," said the Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu who hopes that the people will truly appreciate this year's national day celebration theme "1Malaysia Transforming the Nation".
He is confident the 53rd anniversary of Merdeka will further strengthen race relations in the country.
THE 1MALAYSIA SYMBOL
As a symbolic representation of the 1Malaysia concept, a total of 53 ethnic representatives are to parade the 1Malaysia symbol into Stadium Utama during the launch.
Simultaneously the Fly Jalur Gemilang Campaign will be launched, whereby the public will wave or fly the Jalur Gemilang at Stadium Utama or at their respective locations.
However, those living in Perlis are encouraged to fill in Stadium Utama located at the fringes of Kangar for the launch.
The Merdeka Month Celebration will end with Malaysia Day celebration at Padang Merdeka, Kota Kinabalu, on Sept 16 while the National Day celebration is to be held on August 31 at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil.
Throughout the Merdeka Month celebration, the Jalur Gemilang hoisted or festooned creatively anywhere in the nation will be rewarded through the Creative Jalur Gemilang contest.
JALUR GEMILANG
The Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim notes that the contest is open to building owners, shoplots and schools, and the creativity in decorating using Jalur Gemilang will be based on their number used, the size, and the cheerful or merriment atmosphere it creates.
In Perlis there are several events to make the Merdeka Month celebration merrier including the state level Semarak Merdeka Jalur Gemilang 1Malaysia programme.
Perlis' Information Director Sobki Saad noted that on the morning of August 1 the Semarak Merdeka Jalur Gemilang run will take place at the Simpang Empat town located at the middle of Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) area.
More than 500 participants will participate in the three kilometer run, that signifies the start of the Merdeka Month celebration.
MERDEKA POETRY
Other than the run, the Simpang Empat town is to host the eminent Merdeka veteran's talk who will touch on their past struggles and their future hopes.
The Perlis Culture and Arts Department with the cooperation of Perlis Writers Association (3P) will be holding the `Gema Puisi Kemerdekaan' programme participated by poets and leaders in Perlis on August 8.
The event will take place in a leisurely atmosphere at the Taman Budaya complex.
RURAL DWELLERS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN
Like in the previous Merdeka month celebration, the spirit of patriotism is not only seen in towns but also at the rural and coastal areas.
The Jalur Gemilang will definitely be flying at paddy fields and fruit orchards apart from the fishing and merchant boats.
Though his house is located at the middle of the paddy field within the Mada area, farmers like Salleh are ready to fly the Jalur Gemilang at their homes in conjunction with the Merdeka Month celebration.
As for Johan Senapi, 43, a coastal fisherman, he is all out to fix a Jalur Gemilang on his small boat though probably there is no one going to look at it.
"I'm proud of the Jalur Gemilang. Even if there is no one to look at it, I will still fly it. I'm sure if the fish could think, they will definitely be proud of the flag," said the fisherman.
No matter what, the 230,000 people of Perlis have every reason to be proud because the state covering an area of 810 square kilometres for the first time is given the honour to launch the 2010 Merdeka Month celebration.
-- BERNAMA
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