PUTRAJAYA Aug 31, 2026 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim joined thousands of Malaysians at Dataran Putrajaya on Monday morning to mark the country’s 69th National Day, describing the gathering as a proud display of love for the homeland and a reflection of Malaysia’s multicultural unity.
In a post on X, Anwar said he took part in the celebrations “together with thousands of the people” in an atmosphere of pride and affection for the nation. He noted that the parade brought together members of the security forces, civil servants, young people and people from all walks of life, showing “the true face of Malaysia that is diverse in race and culture, yet firmly united under one Jalur Gemilang.”
The prime minister added that independence, won and inherited from earlier generations of fighters, must not merely be remembered. It must continue to be filled and perfected “with the courage to build a nation that is more just, prosperous and equitable for all.” He ended the message with greetings of Selamat Hari Kebangsaan and “Merdeka!” along with the hashtags #YakinMADANI and #Merdeka69.
The main parade at Dataran Putrajaya was attended by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim and Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah, Anwar and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and other Cabinet members. More than 80,000 people turned out for the event, themed “Malaysia MADANI: Kesejahteraan Dinikmati.”
The procession involved 10,819 participants from 76 contingents and 22 marching bands, together with decorated vehicles, service animals, electric vehicles and a large display of land, sea and air assets. Anwar later walked more than 500 metres among the public to greet those who had come to watch. He praised the performances as among the best he had seen.
Photos shared with Anwar’s post show him standing with a senior military officer and a woman in traditional attire while holding Malaysian flags, warmly greeting a young girl and other members of the crowd behind barriers, posing with children in camouflage uniforms and security personnel, and waving to a large group of participants in matching black-and-gold outfits beneath a banner reading “Hari Kebangsaan 2026.”
The celebrations proceeded despite earlier concerns over haze, with organisers providing masks and monitoring air quality. The event formed the centrepiece of National Month activities that also included Anwar’s National Day address the previous day, in which he announced several measures aimed at easing the cost of living.
Anwar’s message on the day itself returned to a consistent theme of his government: that independence is an unfinished task requiring continued effort to deliver fairness and shared well-being to every Malaysian.
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