National Day rehearsal draws thousands to Dataran Putrajaya

PUTRAJAYA - Dataran Putrajaya was bustling with activity as thousands gathered for a full rehearsal of the upcoming 2026 National Day celebrations. The event began at 8am and featured uniformed contingents, the national flag Jalur Gemilang, and the roar of national assets.

Corporate and government-linked companies (GLCs) joined in, along with colorful special performances. Patriotic songs and drum performances set the mood at the Gema Inovasi Madani special event. Thousands had already arrived by 6am, ready to witness the rehearsal, which concluded at 10am.

Nurmaizatul Fatihah Hanif, a mother of three from Kajang, Selangor, brought her children to support her younger sibling, a student at Universiti Pertahanan Malaysia who participated in the giant flag procession. She expressed her excitement about witnessing the parade in person for the first time, as they had only seen it on television before.

Merdeka Day was described as an exciting occasion, and watching the parade was something the family looked forward to. Nur Hafizza Mohd Shukri, a 24-year-old, stated that the aerial display and K9 unit performance had inspired her to attend the main celebration on August 31. She plans to arrive early to avoid missing any of the main events, hoping for a lively celebration with cooler weather and no rain.