Johoreans express desire to join Merdeka parade at Dataran Merdeka

KUALA LUMPUR: Each year, ahead of the Merdeka Day celebrations since 1999, two Johoreans - M. Kandapan and R. Satayasila – set aside some funds to order the Jalur Gemilang and special stickers to decorate their car.
Kandapan, 57, and Satayasila, 54, would then join a convoy of decorated cars around the state and distribute the national flag at selected schools to commemorate the historic occasion.
The patriotic spirit of Kandapan and Satayasila attracted R. Daaneswaran, 19, to join them for the past two years.
Wanting to achieve a different experience from the previous years, they now want to join the National Day parade at Dataran Merdeka, here, on Aug 31.
"I would like the opportunity to join the parade at Dataran Merdeka, as it has been almost 18 years since I joined the car convoy around Johor," Kandapan told Bernama, here.
Wearing custom-made Jalur Gemilang shirts and pants worth RM700, Kandapan and his two friends had come to Wisma Bernama for the recording of a programme by Bernama News Channel (BNC) in conjunction with the 2017 Merdeka Day celebration.
Kandapan, who was raised in an orphanage in Masai, Johor, and works as a transport permit agent said he and his friends joined the convoy to enliven the celebration.
"I have spent my own money to decorate the car with the Jalur Gemilang and to apply special stickers according to the theme of the Independence Day celebration each year, as well as order special clothes to express my love for the country," said Kandapan, who declined to disclose the total amount he had spent.
The father of six, with four grandchildren, who wants the younger generation to love the country like he does, is sad that people now are not eager to fly the Jalur Gemilang.
"We are surprised as to why people refuse to fly the Jalur Gemilang on their vehicles, business premises and homes to express their pride as Malaysians," he said.
He said flying the Jalur Gemilang was also a tribute to those who struggled to gain the country's independence.
Meanwhile, Satayasila who hails from Ulu Tiram said the convoy of 60 cars would begin their tour around Pasir Gudang, Johor Bahru, Kluang, Muar, Segamat and Kota Tinggi from Aug 26.
"Our convoy group is multiracial, comprising 50 Malays, five Chinese and five Indians," he said.
Daaneswaran said his interest in participating in the car convoy began during his school days, when he received the Jalur Gemilang distributed by Kandapan and his colleagues every August.
"For the past two years, I have joined them in the convoy around Johor to show my love for the country, and I am the youngest member," he added. — Bernama