KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 2026 — Three of Kuala Lumpur’s busiest spots came alive on Saturday night as the Pentarama Merdeka@HOHO programme rolled through the city, drawing more than 4,000 local visitors and foreign tourists as part of the National Day and Malaysia Day (HKHM) 2026 celebrations.
The double-decker KL Hop-On Hop-Off (KL HOHO) bus stopped at Dataran Merdeka, Sungei Wang Plaza and Pavilion Bukit Bintang, where cultural artistes and Pentarama musicians performed patriotic songs and invited the public to wave the Jalur Gemilang.
Department of Information director-general Erwin Khairul Ahmad said the programme was designed as a direct approach to the public, carrying messages of patriotism, togetherness and unity rather than serving as a stand-alone ceremony.
“This is not merely a ceremonial programme; we aim to convey the government’s aspirations and policies to the public, emphasising that the spirit of patriotism must be instilled in the hearts of Malaysians, regardless of the circumstances,” he told reporters after the Pavilion Bukit Bintang stop.
Erwin Khairul said the response exceeded expectations, with members of the public spontaneously joining the activities and waving the national flag together with the performers.
The Sept 12 run was the second Pentarama Merdeka@HOHO series this year, following an earlier circuit in August. The programme is organised by the Department of Information (JAPEN) through Pentarama in collaboration with KL HOHO.
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