PETALING JAYA: There are numerous issues that convey Malaysians collectively. Their obsession with meals, their love for public holidays and likewise, sarongs, in accordance with Ridzwan Nazari, co-director of group occasion Keretapi Sarong.
Don’t consider him? From a modest 1,500 contributors in 2017, the Malaysia Day “flash mob”, organised by group group Locco (Native Companion), has grown exponentially, with an estimated 8,000 contributors anticipated this 12 months! All for the love of sarong.
“There’s no large celebration or parades in KL on Malaysia Day, not like Hari Merdeka. We needed to do one thing to rejoice our Malaysianness.
“We figured what higher image of unity than the sarong to rally fellow Malaysians and have a little bit of enjoyable. Everybody wears the sarong, no matter your race and ethnicity,” stated Ridzwan, 33.
Keretapi Sarong 2023, themed “Empowering Unity Via Malaysians’ Ethnicities”, will happen throughout numerous cities and stations together with Putrajaya Sentral (KLIA Transit), Subang Jaya (LRT), Bandar Utama (MRT), Ampang (LRT), Gombak (LRT), Kajang (MRT), and KL Sentral (LRT).
“Keretapi Sarong is not only a flash mob the place individuals have enjoyable. Persons are keen to get up early within the morning, on a public vacation, to attend it. That simply exhibits how dedicated individuals are to showcase their Malaysian pleasure,” stated Ridzwan, an engineer by occupation.
For those who’ve by no means been to the annual Keretapi Sarong occasion, which is modelled after the “No Pants Subway” motion in New York, it’s fairly fuss free.
Put in your greatest sarong-forward apparel (be inventive), present up on the designated practice stations at 8.30am, board the practice with different contributors, and journey to Dataran Merdeka, the occasion’s endpoint.
A string of actions is deliberate for you at Dataran Merdeka – conventional dances, music, and storytelling periods, a sarong-tying workshop and over 20 conventional video games to spotlight and rejoice Malaysia’s multicultural id.
The celebration will finish with Keretapi Sarong’s signature joget lambak, a freestyle communal dance.
Don’t fear for those who don’t have buddies to go along with. Locco’s Geng Takda Geng initiative goals to hyperlink solo contributors on the designated stations so that everybody can journey in a gaggle. Thus far, 1,300 individuals have signed up for Geng Takda Geng.
This 12 months’s flash mob may also happen in Johor Bahru (alongside Sungai Segget), Ipoh (Station KTMB Ipoh), and Kuala Terengganu (Kampung Budaya Terengganu), in addition to in London, United Kingdom (Battersea Energy Station as an endpoint).
The roots of Locco’s efforts hint again to 2012 when the celebration was within the arms of one other group of buddies generally known as Random Alphabets. Locco then determined to hold the torch ahead with a easy message of unity and an appreciation for sarong and public transportation
For Ridzwan, the spotlight of Keretapi Sarong is seeing individuals donning their greatest and most inventive sarong outfits.
Ridzwan recalled a person wearing a sarong and a tank prime with a pail over his head, a comical tackle a father who didn’t have time to prepare. In 2019, an aged couple got here of their conventional marriage ceremony outfit to rejoice their marriage ceremony anniversary.
“We additionally see this aged aunty yearly who brings her daughter and her granddaughter to Keretapi Sarong. For us, it’s very heartwarming to see individuals bringing their complete household to this occasion,” Ridzwan stated.
This 12 months, greater than 20 teams will be part of the flash mob, together with Baba Nyonya Selangor, United Malaysia Hindu Voice, Mandarin Jer, Anak Teater Malaysia, Malaysia Style Artistic Award, KL Sketch Nation, Road Meet, UITM Shah Alam, and DBP.
“We hope that by means of this occasion, individuals will realise Malaysia is a way more lovely nation than what we understand it to be. It’s an awesome place to make new buddies, join with fellow Malaysians and rejoice our spirit of unity,” Ridzwan concluded.
Keretapi Sarong is a collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Tradition; Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Keseniaan Negara; and Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur.
For extra data, go to the Locco website.
