HIS Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and Raja Zarith Sofiah, King and Queen of Malaysia, today led the country’s 69th National Day celebrations in Putrajaya, as more than 80,000 people gathered for a parade showcasing the country’s military strength, cultural diversity and national pride.
Their Majesties arrived at Dataran Putrajaya at 8am and were received by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil, who is also chairman of the National Day and Malaysia Day (HKHM) 2026 Main Committee.
The celebration marked the third consecutive year Their Majesties have witnessed the National Day spectacle since Sultan Ibrahim became the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2024.
The ceremony began with a trumpet call before the Main Honour Guard band performed Negaraku, followed by a fly-past involving five helicopters carrying the Malaysian flag and the flags of the Malaysian Armed Forces, Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and Royal Malaysian Air Force.
Sultan Ibrahim subsequently inspected the parade and received the Royal Salute from the Main Honour Guard, performed by the 41st Battery of the Ceremonial Royal Artillery Regiment comprising three officers and 57 personnel from Sungai Buloh Camp.
Held under the theme “Malaysia Madani: Kesejahteraan Dinikmati” (“Malaysia MADANI: Shared Prosperity”), the parade featured 10,819 participants across 76 contingents and 22 brass bands.
It also includes 11 decorated vehicles, 328 land, sea and air assets, 112 animals in service and 22 electric vehicle (EV) units, as well as a human graphics performance.
The large turnout saw Malaysians travel from across the country, with some arriving hours ahead of the event and others spending the night around Putrajaya to secure viewing spots.
Some spectators pitched tents, spread out mats and brought portable chairs as they waited for the celebrations to begin.
Among those making the journey was 19-year-old Muhammad Syarafuddin Md Sarif, who drove for more than seven hours from Kedah with three friends.
“We had been planning to come for a long time, but only today did we finally get the opportunity to arrive and set foot in Putrajaya.
“All this while, we have only watched the celebrations on television, so this time we wanted to experience the atmosphere for ourselves,” he told BuletinTV3.
His friend, 19-year-old Muhammad Izzat Alif Mohamad Razlan, said attending the event in person offered an experience that could not be replicated on television.
“We want to feel the ‘real vibes’ and experience the atmosphere of the Independence Day celebrations in Putrajaya.
“We were so excited that we could hardly sleep last night because we kept thinking about how spectacular the parade would be,” he said.
Retired soldier Mohd Kadri Mat Lazim, 48, travelled from Kuantan, Pahang, leaving at about 3pm and arriving in Putrajaya around midnight.
He said he was willing to park his vehicle some distance away and walk about three kilometres so his family could experience the celebrations and his children could learn about the sacrifices made for the country’s independence.
“I am a former soldier, so that spirit is still there. I want to educate my children and show them what it means to have the spirit of celebrating Independence Day.
“Besides that, I want them to learn to appreciate the struggles of those who came before us and fought to secure the country’s independence,” he said.
John Tan, who travelled from Penang with his family, said he brought his children to the celebrations to help nurture their patriotic spirit.
“As Malaysians, we should at least once in our lives come and witness these celebrations for ourselves.
“I want my children to see the patriotic spirit and understand what it means to be Malaysian.
“I feel it was very worthwhile and I am proud to see Malaysians of different races celebrating Independence Day together. I also saw many tourists from other countries who came to watch the celebrations,” he said.
For 75-year-old retiree Zaleha Khamis, the occasion was particularly significant as it was her first time attending the National Day celebrations at Dataran Putrajaya.
“As a Malaysian, I feel very proud because at the age of 75, today is the first time I have come to Dataran Putrajaya.
“I am very grateful and proud to be Malaysian. I brought my children and son-in-law so that we could experience the celebrations together,” she said.
Their Majesties Sultan Ibrahim and Raja Zarith Sofiah also conveyed their National Day greetings to Malaysians in a Facebook post, wishing the people a meaningful 69th National Day celebration. - August 31, 2026
