A brief drizzle did not stop the crowd from pouring in from as early as 6.30am, many of them armed with umbrellas.
True to the theme of the celebrations, participants of the parade, which was telecast live nationwide, as well as spectators displayed sentiments of ‘Sehati Sejiwa’ (One Heart, One Soul) in their show of patriotism.
About 14,500 people took part in the parade, including contingents from the public and private sectors and from the states as well as security personnel and students. Team Malaysia who did us proud at the recently ended Rio Olympics was also there.
The crowd cheered as the participants marched, danced and sang to the beat of 20 bands, and especially enjoyed the air shows, including a fly-past of 12 fighter jets. A giant LED screen installed along one side of the field helped them follow the action.
The sky had cleared by the time the parade began soon after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Hajah Aminah, arrived at 8am.
They were received by Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his wife, Hamidah Khamis, and members of the Cabinet. The diplomatic corps paid their respects.
The King took the salute and inspected a guard of honour mounted by four officers and 103 men of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment from the Sungai Besi Camp led by Maj Azadlee Rafedzi Kamal Rafedzi.
The hoisting of the Jalur Gemilang was accompanied by the singing of Negaraku.
The 41st Battery of the Royal Artillery Regiment then fired a 41-gun salute.
The reading of the young generation pledge of allegiance followed led by Fourth Form top student Muhammad Hilal Asraf Nor Hisham of Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah in Putrajaya.
Two thousand students took to the field to interpret the ‘Sehati Sejiwa’ theme, using placards, pom-poms and umbrellas to covey the message of family harmony, economic progress and technological advancement.
The police exhibited 157 assets, including super bikes and expressway mobile patrol vehicles known as high eagles used mainly for car chases.
The armed forces put on show 213 land and 35 air assets. They were particularly proud of the Malaysian-made High Mobility Armoured Vehicle known as ‘Lipan Bara’ (Centipede Ember).
The parade was divided into 10 segments, including public order, national security, unity of the people.
Very popular among the younger audience was the segment on animation that featured local cartoon characters BoboiBoy, Keluang Man and Didi and Friends.
The parade, with 26 contingents in all taking part, along with 50 horses and 22 dogs, lasted for about four hours.
It ended with a cultural dance by a multi-racial troupe of 1,000.