Fun, but could be better: first-time parade visitors want improved crowd control

KUALA LUMPUR – Droves of Malaysians were excited and eager to catch this year’s large-scale National Day celebrations after two years of limited events and festivities due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

First-time parade visitors, who were among the tens of thousands of people at Dataran Merdeka here since early this morning, shared with The Vibes their experience during the eventful morning.

For visually impaired Razlan, 28, this Merdeka parade here was a giddy delight as he was able to appreciate the nation’s security assets, which has been a long-time fascination of his. 

“I’ve always been interested in the sounds of combat vehicles, and I was also looking forward to the fighter jet air show.”

Razlan, who was accompanied by his wife Nadia, 33, appeared to not mind the scorching weather as he happily recounted how he was given the chance to enter and sit atop one of the security vehicles. 

“This was my first time attending a Merdeka parade, and I had a great time,” he added.

Although the massive crowds were “a bit too much” at times, the overall experience will be one he would cherish.

“Hopefully, authorities will be able to better control the crowd next year,” he said, noting that the number of parade attendees started to build up after 7am.  

The 2022 National Day celebration was expected to draw at least 50,000 people. However, it has been reported that those gathered numbered more than 100,000. 

Commenting on the huge crowds, 22-year-old Aisyah Farahana said organisers should have preempted the enormous turnout, as the National Day parade had not been held for the past two years. 

“It is way too crowded on the trains, and even the roads to Dataran itself were packed with people,” said the International Islamic University Malaysia student.

She added that organisers should provide more seats at the stands where visitors had turned up as early as 4am to secure a good view of the parade.

“They (organisers) should have expected that many people would want to come see the parade, as we haven’t had such an event for a long time.”

Nonetheless, she said that she and her group of friends had enjoyed the show as they had previously watched the event on television. 

Meanwhile, French national Sofian, 38, said the awe-inspiring parade today was a great example of citizens uniting under one event.

“You could really see the joy on everyone’s faces. It was a very impressive parade.”

He also said his two children – a two-year-old toddler and a six-month-old baby – also had fun watching the colourful and loud parade. – The Vibes, August 31, 2022

Additional reporting by Hakim Mahari