{
  "id": 4139671,
  "title": "Dashing 'King Oyen' steals the show at National Day parade rehearsal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/dashing-king-oyen-steals-the-show-at-national-day-parade-rehearsal",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T07:31:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/08/1521272/dashing-king-oyen-steals-show-national-day-parade-rehearsal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "PUTRAJAYA - The National Day Parade rehearsal in Putrajaya today saw the presence of a young six-year-old cat named King Oyen, which captured the public's attention. Dapper in a shirt, a tanjak-patterned Jalur Gemilang tasseled cap, and dark sunglasses, King Oyen rode his superbike through the crowd of thousands of visitors. However, this dashing feline was not there for a casual ride. His owner, Mohd Salleh Zakaria, 54, stated that the cat was present to provide moral support for his youngest sister, Siti Aleesa Nadia, who is part of the Ministry of National Unity's parade contingent for this year. King Oyen, affectionately known as Daddy Oyen, was no stranger to the National Day parade events, having participated in the last four years. Known for his calm demeanor amidst noisy surroundings and roaring engines, such as fighter jets and helicopters, King Oyen was trained to remain composed around crowds. At home, he is mischievous like any ordinary cat, but outside, he follows commands diligently. His wife, Siti Zalifah Abd Aziz, 53, revealed that King Oyen enjoys watching air shows and can perform tasks like shaking hands and giving fist bumps. Tourists, especially foreign visitors, often flock to take photographs with the celebrity cat. King Oyen's account on TikTok and Instagram, with over 77,000 and 24,000 followers, respectively, speaks volumes about his popularity. Netizens have been thrilled to meet the VIP cat, with one visitor, Wan Anis Farieha Wan Ahmad Kaspi, 36, sharing her excitement at snapping a photo with King Oyen during the rehearsal. The dashing cat will also make an appearance at the 2026 National Day Parade on Monday.",
  "summary": "PUTRAJAYA: The presence of a six-year-old American Shorthair cat named ‘King Oyen’ was among the highlights that captured public attention during the full rehearsal for the 2026 National Day Parade at Dataran Putrajaya today.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : Dashing ‘King Oyen’ Steals The Show At National Day Parade Rehearsal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/general-dashing-a-king-oyena-steals-the-show-at-national-day-parade",
        "published": "2026-08-29T06:44:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}