It’s no secret that all of us are proud to be Malaysians. So it comes as no surprise that Malaysians went in droves for one of the most unique Malaysia Day celebrations ever with Keretapi Sarong 2024.
Set against the theme of ‘Bangga Malaysia’, the eighth edition of Keretapi Sarong 2024 brought together Malaysians from all walks of life to celebrate Malaysia Day with a slew of colourful activities on 14 September.
As per Keretapi Sarong tradition, Malaysians gathered at selected train stations in their favourite sarong or traditional outfits before adjourning to the main event. However, the final location remained undisclosed until the morning of the cultural event.
Didn’t get to ride the train? Let’s bring you up to speed on what went down at Keretapi Sarong 2024:
1. Lanai @ MATIC was revealed as the secret location!
At 8.30AM on the date of Keretapi Sarong 2024, the final location of the main event was finally revealed to be Lanai @ MATIC, a location set in the heart of KL that has been a popular playground for a dizzying array of arts and cultural events.
Courtesy of over 40 homegrown brands collaborating with Keretapi Sarong 2024, attendees got to relish numerous on- and off-stage traditional dance performances, local music acts, a flea market, refreshment stalls, and several carnival-like games at the main event.
To amp up the patriotic fun, the Queen of Malaysian Ethnic Pop, Noraniza Idris, also made a special appearance at the main event, performing several timeless classical and traditional Malay songs to the cheers of thousands of Malaysians.
Noraniza Idris
2. Riding towards a united future
But it’s not just the main event that’s worth mentioning! Earlier in the morning, Malaysians from various communities convened in flash mobs at selected train stations throughout the country, from Kajang and Subang Jaya all the way to Gombak and Ampang. Even under our scorching Malaysian weather, it’s touching to see seas of Malaysians in colourful sarongs and traditional outfits turning up to celebrate the one thing that keeps us united as a nation – our love and pride for Malaysia.
Even if you missed out on the event, you’ve definitely seen other Malaysians posting their experiences on social media, or you can look up #KeretapiSarong2024 on Instagram, X or TikTok and see how everyone was celebrating Keretapi Sarong 2024.
Malaysians in non-Klang Valley areas weren’t left out of the fun either. Additional flash mobs took place at other locales like Johor Bahru, Kota Bharu, Ipoh, Bukit Mertajam, Alor Setar, Kuantan, and Kuala Terengganu; even Malaysians residing in international cities like Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam had their own Keretapi Sarong 2024 flash mobs across the sea.
At the end of the event, an estimated total of 15,000 Malaysians celebrated Malaysia Day with Keretapi Sarong 2024– walaowei! Good job lah, gais!
3. A Malaysian team effort!
Bulan Bintang
Keretapi Sarong 2024 is arguably its BIGGEST instalment ever! And it’s thanks to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture of Malaysia and more than 40 local brands who believed in their cause, including:
Prasarana
The country’s leading public transport system played a key role in ensuring the smooth operation of Keretapi Sarong 2024, with attendees advised to use their Touch ‘n Go card or opt for MyCity Passes for uninterrupted travel.
ERL (via KLIA Transit service) – Ekspres Lah Best
ERL’s ‘Ekspres Lah Best’ campaign featured local pride with various exciting activities, with special return fares exclusively for sarong wearers from Putrajaya & Cyberjaya to KL Sentral on Keretapi Sarong 2024: RM10 for adults and RM5 for children.
AirAsia – Malaysian Memories with AirAsia
Malaysians were invited to reminisce about their journeys with AirAsia through the ‘Memories of Malaysia with AirAsia’ campaign, honouring local roots and national pride.
Hotlink – #HotlinkJaguh5GUntukMalaysia Activates #KeretapiSarong24
Hotlink supported the event by activating its network, ensuring all participants stayed connected for a smooth patriotic train ride and the data to share their moments.
Siti Khadijah (SK) – Sticker of Our Style
SK launched a stylish campaign that revisits traditional fashion through modern interpretations, blending heritage with contemporary trends.
HAUSBOOM – #LokalLagiBoom
Attendees got to freshen up with HAUSBOOM’s locally crafted drinks, infused with the distinct flavours of Malaysia.
Bulan Bintang – Make Baju Melayu Great Again
Bulan Bintang encouraged Malaysians to explore the elegance of baju melayu and wear them with pride.
Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) – Supporting Aspirations Across Generations
BSN’s campaign highlighted its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Malaysians across generations, reflecting its role in national growth and unity.
And finally, let’s not forget other community partners of Keretapi Sarong 2024 like Infinix, UiTM Melaka, TGV Cinemas, Gardenia, Hi Lighter Studio, and the Malaysia Fashion Creativity Award (MFCA), for ensuring the annual culture event was a success.
Feeling FOMO from not getting to celebrate Malaysia Day with Keretapi Sarong? Not to worry, there’s always next year! You can also stay up to date on the latest information about Keretapi Sarong by checking them out on:
