KL Mayor Datuk Seri Paduka Maimunah Mohd Sharif (centre) leads the way
By Ooi Lay Beng
“Malaysia: Truly Asia”, a tagline used by Tourism Malaysia, has long resonated as an invitation to experience the kaleidoscope of cultures, flavours, and traditions that make this multiracial nation unique.
Last Sunday, Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur, unveiled a fresh tagline that could stand proudly alongside it – “Kuala Lumpur: Truly Malaysia” at a cultural parade in Dataran DBKL.
It called for the celebration of the capital’s soul, spirit, and splendour. It wasn’t just a show. It was a living tapestry woven from the threads of Malaysia’s many races and traditions when the city’s beating heart was on full display with music, dancing and plenty of laughter.
Indian dancers stepping forward
From the graceful swirls of Malay joget dancers to the shimmering saris of Indian classical dance performers, and the exhilarating frolics of Chinese lion troupes to the thundering Oriental drums – every step, beat, and gesture of the performers radiated with pride and unity, hammering home the message that Kuala Lumpur is Truly Malaysia.
The crowd that morning included foreign dignitaries who came for the Meeting of Governors and Mayors of ASEAN Capitals (MGMAC) and ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum.
But on that special Aug 10 morning, the bigwigs momentarily forgot that they were politicians or bureaucrats but simply guests or spectators to a great spectacle of Kuala Lumpur in full bloom.
Not only did the performers hold the audience spellbound, but the infectious gaiety of the moment also swept through the crowd, compelling many to rise from their seats and join the dance with spontaneous delight. They included Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Paduka Maimunah Mohd Sharif, who stepped into the open space at the end of the parade and joined in the joget lambak.
The parade covered Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (closed for the KL Car Free Morning), and the usual honks of traffic were replaced by the joyous pulse of culture.
Amidst the celebratory mood, the brass band of DBKL also swung into action to play upbeat numbers at the finale for the appreciative crowd.
Naquib Hamdan, DBKL’s Director of Culture, Arts, Tourism, and Sport, beamed, clapped, and swayed to the music alongside the other participants.
Lion dance troupes in brilliant red, yellow, and green – mirroring the main colours of the DBKL flag – pranced energetically with multi-ethnicity of Chinese, Malay and Indian performers in true muhibah spirit. The dance troupes were generously sponsored by Sky Ladder Pineapple Farm CEO, Dato’ Lee Mok Foong, who journeyed from Lukut, Negeri Sembilan, not only to lend his support but also to present his farm’s prized pineapples — long cherished as symbols of prosperity — to the attending dignitaries as a heartfelt gesture of goodwill.
To add to the grandeur of the occasion, runners from the Merdeka Fun Run also basked in glory while the elegant Kebaya Walk participants turned the streets into a graceful runway of heritage fashion.
KL Mayor Maimunah displays pineapples presented by Dato Lee Mok Foong
Mayor Maimunah, in addressing the Sunday morning crowd, said: “Yes, it’s great to see so many people, colours, and smiles gathered in one space. This is a beautiful reminder of what cities are meant to be – places for people.
“We are not only reclaiming our streets to celebrate our diverse cultural heritage; we are also showcasing the vibrant cultures that make up our city and the Asean region. To say that Kuala Lumpur is Truly Malaysia, I just love it.
“The Cultural Parade brings together Malaysians and our Asean friends in a joyful, colourful expression of tradition and unity.
“From baju kurung and kebaya to barongs and batik, from kompang to kulintang (a kind of gong), the parade reminds us that our diversity is a cause for celebration.
“The sound of drums, the rhythm of dance, the beauty of traditional attire; all of it fills our city streets not just with energy, but also with a deep sense of belonging and pride.”
The participants who made it a memorable day included those from the Kuala Lumpur Society, Kuna Vehaara Dance Academy, BSY Oriental Drums, Khuan Loke Dragon & Lion Dance Association, Kebaya Walk Group, Kombo Budaya, Art KL & Artis Budaya, Universiti Malaya, UNIKL, Kolej Komuniti Hulu Selangor, Pancaragam JPK and JKKPS.
“Today, we also witnessed what a Public-Private-People Partnership could achieve. It’s great to live in a city like this,” said KL Society founding president Jack Lim, jubilant that everything went well.
Those who attended the Aug 10 Cultural Parade will certainly vouch that Kuala Lumpur is Truly Malaysia.
The joget lambak in full swing
WE