From Buff Abang Askar to Adorable K9 Heroes, Here are 7 Unforgettable Moments from 68th Merdeka Day Celebration!

On August 31 (Sunday), tens of thousands of Malaysians from all walks of life gathered at Putrajaya Square to celebrate the country’s 68th National Day.

This year’s National Day, themed “Malaysia MADANI: Rakyat Disantuni,” drew a record-breaking attendance with over 100,000 visitors, with 14,062 participants in the parade itself, according to Kosmo.

If you didn’t get to catch the parade in person, here’s a quick recap of what you might’ve missed!

1. The King of Malaysia makes a cool entrance in a Satria Neo

The parade kicked off at 8 AM with the arrival of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, who made a grand entrance by personally driving a blue Proton Satria Neo with the registration number WWW1 to the ceremony.

He was joined by his consort, Raja Zarith Sofiah, and the royal couple received a warm welcome from thousands lining Putrajaya’s boulevards. And honestly, it doesn’t get much cooler than that!

2. Giant Jalur Gemilang carried by cadets

A rare sight unfolded as 120 cadet officers from Universiti Pertahanan Nasional carried a massive 80 x 40-foot Jalur Gemilang, followed by the Victoria Institution Marching Band and state flag bearers.

Spectators even stood up and waved their mini flags in sync with the music, making the moment even more memorable!

3. Siti Nurhaliza’s performance

National icon Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Taruddin stole the spotlight with her graceful performance of the 2025 National Day and Malaysia Day (HKHM 2025) theme song, Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni.

In a Facebook post, Malaysia’s number one singer shared her gratitude and said she never thought she’d get such an opportunity, even after more than three decades in the music scene.

4. Gerakan Militan Nusantara

A hostage rescue demonstration was carried out by the 11th Special Forces Regiment (11 RGK), with support from the 12th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment Mechanized (12 RAMD Mek), according to Sinar Harian.

The tactical showcase highlighted the Malaysian Armed Forces’ (ATM) skills in taking down a terrorist group called the “Gerakan Militan Nusantara,” who had kidnapped a high-profile individual, before successfully rescuing the hostage through a coordinated tactical raid.

5. Our four-legged friends made an appearance!

For a split second, everyone completely forgot about the parade as our four-legged friends drew thunderous cheers from the crowd at Dataran Putrajaya.

The Malaysia Civil Defence Force led the way with a team of Dobermans, followed by the Customs Department’s K9 heroes, that were handsomely geared up!

Stealing hearts, however, was an orange cat from the Civil Defence Force lounging on the edge of a towed boat. The parade continued with over 20 horses from the Malaysian Army Royal Armoured Corps’ ceremonial mounted unit trotting proudly past the stands.

6. Speed trap

Even though the parade vehicles weren’t exactly breaking any speed limits (pun intended), the team from Lipis District Police Headquarters (IPD Lipis) still did what they do best.

The traffic police were spotted in a funny moment, “catching” road users with a speed trap camera also equipped with an additional prop in the form of a packet of iced tea tied to the side!

7. Buff abang Askar is this year’s internet sensation!

Previously, the appearance of muscular army personnel at the full rehearsal for the 2025 National Day became viral on social media after the public caught sight of them, as reported by Kosmo.

While last year everyone went crazy over abang bomba, this year we were treated to a surprise after an unexpected showcase of the army’s hunky, muscular personnel!

Think we missed something? Don’t worry, you can catch the Merdeka parade live right here:

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know down in the comments!

Also read: Looking for Something Fun to Do This Merdeka? Check Out These 6 Events Happening Around Klang Valley!