National Day: Pensioner decorates home with 700 Jalur Gemilang, Sabah flags

A government retiree, Awang Akub said he had been doing it every year to help enliven the National Month as the country prepared for the National Day celebration.

It is as a sign of appreciation for the blessings of independence enjoyed by the country, he added.

This year, Awang Akub, 61, has decorated his house and compound with about 700 Jalur Gemilang and Sabah flags of various sizes which have been put up and creatively arranged to welcome the country's 64th National Day celebration tomorrow.

"I spent almost RM700 to buy the Jalur Gemilang, Sabah state flag and also the flags of other states. I did this voluntarily for my own satisfaction to enliven the National Day celebration this year.

"I have made it a tradition to decorate my house with the Jalur Gemilang in August every year. I feel this is important because as Malaysians we need to be proud and happy to celebrate the country's independence, which has enabled us to live in peace and harmony," he told Bernama.

Awang Akub said he also got his children to give ideas, as well as to help him decorate the house and compound as he it was important to inculcate the spirit of patriotism in the young generation.

"I get my children involved in putting up the flags to enliven the celebration. The young generation must truly appreciate how blessed we are to live in an independent country," he added.

Another government retiree, Jainudin Sudin, 61, said he had decorated his house with the Jalur Gemilang to enliven the celebration, and to express his happiness and gratitude for the country's independence.

He said he had used more than 100 pieces of the Jalur Gemilang, the Sabah flag and flags of other states to decorate his house and compound.

"I am proud to be a Malaysian and am excited to celebrate the National Day by flying the Jalur Gemilang. This is also one of the ways for us as Malaysians to show our patriotic spirit and appreciate the country's independence," he said.

Meanwhile, Kampung Lok Kawi Baru Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) secretary Mohamad Fendi Moksin said about 1,000 pieces of the Jalur Gemilang and Sabah flags were distributed to residents in the village this year to be flown to celebrate National Day.

He said it was also part of the fly the Jalur Gemilang and patriotic house competition organised by the committee, involving the participation of 20 households.

"The competition, which ends on Sept 16, received encouraging response and conducted in strict compliance with standard operating procedures," he added.