THE tiered steel structure being used by schoolchildren for the human graphic performance at the 2026 National Day celebrations has been declared safe, with its slight movement attributed to the flexibility built into its design.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the matter had been discussed with Perbadanan Putrajaya (PPJ), which provided the structure and had given assurances over its safety throughout the celebrations.
He said the structure could not be completely rigid as the students would move according to the rhythm of their performance.
“They indeed informed us that the structure has a little of what is called ‘flex tolerance’. If it were too rigid, like a bridge, and because the human graphic moves in rhythm, if it were too sturdy, that would not be good for the structure.
“So, it needs to have a little tolerance, and that tolerance has been built into and incorporated into the structure,” he told reporters after inspecting a rehearsal for the 2026 National Day celebrations today.
Fahmi said the structure had also been reviewed to ensure it would not affect the performance or pose any safety risks to the students involved.
He said this would be the third year the structure had been used, with no problems reported so far.
Addressing concerns that the structure appeared to be off-centre, Fahmi said this was due to the parade route and the PPJ building not being aligned along the same axis.
He said the difference of several degrees between the two positions made the structure appear asymmetrical from certain angles.
“Last year, it was also not symmetrical, but the number of human graphic participants was higher.
“This year, we reduced the number from 2,000 to 1,500 participants, so that is one of the reasons why it appears more noticeably off-centre.
“Last year, the structure was also off-centre, but because there were more participants, about 500 more, the structure was larger and the situation was not as obvious,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said preparations for the National Day celebrations, which will be held on Monday, were progressing smoothly and were expected to be nearly 100% complete following tomorrow's full rehearsal.
He said today's rehearsal showed that the morale and spirit of contingents, including police, military personnel and students from various schools involved in the human graphic performance, were encouraging.
The organising committee has also introduced several improvements, including speeding up the movement of certain contingents to ensure the event runs more smoothly.
This year's celebrations will feature several new elements, including the participation of the Johor Military Force (JMF) and maritime assets, including the Ibrahim-class boats designed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Fahmi said the new assets, together with various formations, were expected to offer spectators a more engaging experience.
He inspected preparations at Dataran Putrajaya today, marking the third rehearsal ahead of the National Day celebrations on Aug 31.
The full rehearsal is scheduled for tomorrow as the final preparation before the main event.
Meanwhile, the 2026 National Day Prime Minister's Address, scheduled for Aug 30 at 9.30pm, has been moved from Dataran Merdeka to the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) due to haze, the Communications Ministry said.
The ministry said the relocation was an adaptive measure in response to prevailing conditions, particularly to safeguard the health, safety and comfort of guests and the public while ensuring the event runs smoothly.
“The relocation will not affect the programme or spirit of the 2026 National Day celebrations, but is instead a responsible measure to ensure the event is held in a more controlled and comfortable environment,” it said in a statement on Aug 27.
The Federal Government will continue to monitor the haze situation and air quality, it said.
A decision on whether the National Day parade will proceed will be made based on prevailing conditions and assessments and advice from the Health Ministry, Department of Environment and Malaysian Meteorological Department.
The public has been advised to monitor official updates on the haze and obtain health information and advice through official channels. - August 28, 2026
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