National Day 2020: Celebration under new norms to create history

This year's National Day celebration on Aug 31 will definitely be history in the making for Malaysians as it will be the first time the parade to be televised will adhere to practices under the new normal.

Communications and Multimedia Ministry (KKMM) senior undersecretary (Management) Mohammad Diah Wahari said the event will be pre-recorded separately for each contingent in order to reduce mass public gatherings, as well as to ensure COVID-19 pandemic standard operating procedures are complied with.

"This year, the government will not hold any procession as before. This time, the (National Day) event will be held at Dataran Pahlawan, Putrajaya with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah inspecting a guard of honour.

"Next, His Majesty will be invited to watch a telecast (of the event) on Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM)," he told Bernama, after coming on as a guest on the @Radio programme on Bernama Radio entitled National Month 2020 'Malaysia Prihatin', today.

Detailing the response to the theme "Malaysia Prihatin", Mohammad Diah said RTM was responsible for editing the recording using the "mixed reality'' technology consisting of "augmented reality" and 3D Computer-Generated Image (CGI) technology.

In line with country's new norms to help with the prevention of the COVID-19 virus, Mohammad Diah invited the people to celebrate the country's 63rd anniversary by watching RTM's telecast so that the festivities could still be felt despite not being able to witness the procession and live performances from the venue.

He also called on the people to fly the Jalur Gemilang at their respective homes, as well as to participate in various nationalistic programmes organised by KKMM, Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia (Bernama) and RTM as a sign of patriotism to the country.

Commenting on the nationalistic programmes, he said among the programmes that will be held are Merdeka@Komuniti, Merdeka Poetry Competition, Klik@Merdeka 2020 photography competition, Rukun Negara Webinar, e-Treasure Hunt and Kita Merdeka 1957 concert-2020.

For this celebration, the heart-shaped logo became the choice after its last use in 2016 with the colours of the Jalur Gemilang flag being in the background, symbolising the Malaysian government's concern for the multiracial community in this country.

The logo and theme of the National Day were introduced during the launch of the National Month celebration and Fly the Jalur Gemilang campaign by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in July.

-- BERNAMA