Bangsar folks personified unification by celebrating Malaysia Day recently as a neighborhood together under one canopy — and by cutting a ‘Jalur Gemilang’ cake with both BN and Pakatan politicians.
About 200 people who stayed in the vicinity of Jalan Limau Purut and Lorong Maarof, attended the event despite an evening drizzle.
Also on the guest list were Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being Minister Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin and Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, who enjoyed their nasi briyani and Starbucks coffee with the residents.
Organising chairman Daniel Alfred said security concerns were initially what had brought the community together.
“We set up a security subcommittee in view of the rising threat of snatch theft,”
he explains.
“We went house-to-house and told everybody that we needed to do something about it, and much to our surprise, we got a very good response,” he said.
A 24-hour patrol team was established and the crime rate in the area has since dropped.
“Our goal is to build the neighbourhood. I am glad to see that residents now tell the patrol team that they saw somebody loitering near their neighbour’s house,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minister said this kind of community event would encourage youths to experience the 1 Malaysia spirit.
“The 1 Malaysia concept has long been here. It can be found among older generation, but maybe the younger generation has lost it.”
“But through this kind of event where parents bring their kids out, the young generation will know this is 1 Malaysia,” Raja Nong Chik said, adding that local-level functions should be encouraged.
Nurul Izzah was welcomed by the youths and many approached her to pose for photographs together.
CJMY
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