Colours of M’sia on display
Sabahans and Sarawakians don traditional garb in show of diversity
SHAH ALAM: Participants from Sabah and Sarawak, clad in a bright array of traditional costumes, were a walking showcase of how the country’s unique diversity bonds people of all races at the #AnakAnakMalaysia Walk 2017.
They arrived as early as 5.30am.
“We are joining this walk to show our children back home that we are proud to be Malaysians.
“We are Bidayuh and there are many dialects in our tribe, but what unites us all is speaking our national language, Bahasa Malaysia,” said Cynthia Raymond, 44.
Nani Rullan, 42, dressed in baju Melayu, came with two friends, one in a cheongsam and the other in an Indian peacock costume.
“I wish to spread the message that Malaysia’s diverse culture and races are able to live in harmony,” said Nani, a freelance dancer.
Iban participant Andrew Emparan, from Sri Aman, Sarawak, said a large contingent of 40 Sabahans and Sarawakians living in the Klang Valley were taking part in the walk.
“We want to show peninsular participants that Malaysia is multicultural, and that we are proud of our culture too,” said Andrew, who wore baju burung, complete with a headdress of tail feathers, while others wore costumes such as baju gagung (with animal skins).
Andrew, who has been living in Serdang for the past 17 years, said several Sarawakian tribes’ cultural dress were being showcased at the walk, such as Kenyah, Iban, Bidayuh and Kelabit as well as Orang Ulu.
Baetrice June Mandek, from Sandakan, Sabah, and her family all set out wearing the traditional Kadazandusun moludu.
The Sabahans and Sarawakians were approached for selfies several times before and after the walk by other participants.
“I feel blessed that we were invited to join in the event, as we wanted to showcase aspects of our culture to other Malaysians,” said Baetrice.
“Last year, one friend who took part in traditional dress said she was stopped every few hundred metres for wefies and selfies. It’s no different this year,” the Sabahan laughed.
The fun-filled walk also attracted 62 primary school students from SJKT Sungai Renggam Seksyen 18.
Headmaster Vimaladevi Sridharan, 55, said the event would help inculcate in the students a readiness to live among different ethnicities.
Despite his age, 79-year-old retiree Wong Jun Rin said the 5km walk was “no sweat”.
“This cannot compare to my daily hiking and jogging.
“It was a time for our family of seven to come together as one to support a good cause. It’s the least we can do as Malaysians,” he said.
As we move forward, if we can continue to rally together, we will be even more successful. Permodalan Nasional Berhad chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar
The walk is a great event to bring the whole nation together, irrespective of age and culture. Employees Provident Fund chief executive officer Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan
It doesn’t matter where you come from, how old you are or what race you are, we walk together.
Model, actress and TV host Amber Chia
Events such as this bring people out of their normal daily lives for something much bigger.
Professional racer Leona Chin
I am touched to see the nation coming togetherg for the event.
Miss World Malaysia 2009 Thanuja Ananthan