If there’s one thing Malaysians are known for, it’s for our spirit of togetherness. Nothing can tear us apart, not even a pandemic and true to its form, the country united once again. On 16 September 2022, to mark the nation's 49th Malaysia Day, throngs of excited citizens partook in the 4th annual Keretapi Sarong event in the Klang Valley and AirAsia was there every step of the way.

This year’s ‘Retro KL’ themed Keretapi Sarong, translated to mean ‘Sarong Train’, was organised by local community group Locco in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture and the Ministry of Transport, and was set out to be a unifying event that gathers people from all walks of life and all parts of town to celebrate Malaysia Day. On this special day, folks meet at designated train stations around KL dressed to the nines in their sarong and traditional attire where they’ll hop on board a carriage that’ll bring them to a ‘secret location’ - revealed only on that day. This year’s location was unveiled to be Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, right in the heart of town.

The iconic sarong - a flowing piece of fabric that is typically wrapped around the waist - bears important significance to many cultures in Malaysia and this event is an homage to that. Never one to miss a chance to connect people, AirAsia proudly partnered with Locco for this memorable event. In a sea of batik, a splash of red could be spotted - comprising AirAsia’s Allstars from across Capital A who turned up to support the team and join in the fun along with close to an incredible 10,000 attendees.

Malaysia Day is celebrated every year on the 16th of September in commemoration of the establishment of the Malaysian federation on the same date 49 years ago - just 6 years after Malaysia was declared an independent nation in 1957. The Federation of Malaya Agreement was signed by the representatives of the British government, the Federation of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore to form Malaysia on the 31st of August however, Malaysia was only formally declared on the 16th of September in 1963 at Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur. It was only from 2010 onwards that Malaysia Day was an official public holiday for all the states in Malaysia, and since it falls only slightly over a fortnight after Merdeka Day, it's celebrated with much grandeur all over the country.

[Photo caption: It’s all fun and games for this bunch of folks!]

The fun activities started as early as 8.30AM in all the 8 touch points designated for this event across the Klang Valley. Enthusiastic attendees sat crossed-leg at the station floors and partook in dancing and a ‘dikir barat’ performance - a traditional Kelantanese musical form. The fun didn’t stop there - onboard the train to Pavilion, the excited passengers belted out in unison patriotic songs any Malaysian will know by heart such as ‘Jalur Gemilang’ and ‘Keranamu’.

AirAsia spoke to a few event-goers who came from near and far, decked out in their best sarong gear.

Aliya Noor, who came with a pal, shares that this is her first time at the Keretapi Sarong event and she was in awe at how many people from all ages turned up. “I saw videos online and that got me excited to experience it myself! This whole event mirrors what Malaysia is about - a mix of culture and heritage and all coming together to celebrate as one.”

[Photo caption: Attendees who travelled via the MRT Bandar Utama checkpoint gather for quick photo at Pavilion whilst proudly waving the Malaysian flag]

“I’ve been wanting to join a Keretapi Sarong event for years, and this was my chance!”, attendee Yuan Ching told AirAsia. “Since COVID, we never had the opportunity for a mass gathering such as this, to celebrate being Malaysian. My heart is full today.”

The trains carrying exhilarated passengers arrived at the ‘secret location’, and what a sight to behold. Thousands of batik and sarong-clad folk could be seen at every corner, excitedly making their way to the main stage for more fun and games. Courtesy of AirAsia, on display next to the stage was a special first-generation Proton Saga Limousine, an iconic vehicle for many Malaysians. AirAsia sponsored prizes for a series of fun competitions organised by Locco, such as the ‘Sarong Challenge’, ‘Sarong Best Dressed’ and mobile/photography contests. Lucky winners walked away with exclusive airasia’s Super + passes, hotel vouchers, freebies and much more.

[AirAsia Cabin Crew pose with the special first-gen Proton Saga at the entrance of Pavilion. Our crew and AirAsia’s volunteers also handed out our fans, much sought-after airasia ride vouchers and airasia’s Santan’s famous Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak On-The-Go to event-goers]

[AirAsia met with Ms Laila, one of the best dressed attendees of the day who stuck true to the theme and proudly showcased her eye-catching ‘retro/sarong’ ensemble. She told AirAsia: “I wanted to celebrate this day with my fellow Malaysians and I wanted to look different.” You sure did, Ms Laila, and we loved it!]

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all, was a visit by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, much to the delight of everyone.

[Photo Caption: National treasures, side by side: Tun Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah pose with the iconic Proton Saga during the Keretapi Sarong event]

Father of 2, Anirudh Chandra turned up with his two pre-teen daughters, who like many others came to experience this event for the first time. On what inspired him to attend, he said: “I really want my girls to soak in the true essence of being Malaysian and embrace this melting pot of cultures I grew up with. Seeing everyone here from different backgrounds and heritages, it just goes to show how much we respect each other and what better way to celebrate that.”

Unity is not unfamiliar to the AirAsia family. Back before affordable air travel existed, many missed out on exploring the beauty and adventure of Malaysia, even Malaysians themselves. Since AirAsia was incepted almost exactly 21 years ago, we've connected millions of locals and tourists alike between East and West Malaysia, some of those were Malaysians who yearned to be reunited with their families across the seas, and many more who just wanted to sightsee our beautiful states. This Malaysia Day brought back fond memories for AirAsia as we look back on where we started to where we are now.

AirAsia was honoured to be one of Locco’s brand partners for the Keretapi Sarong event, sharing in the true spirit of togetherness and patriotism. This event was all about uniting the masses and as a company that brings people closer together and connects hearts, we’re proud to be here for you then, here for you now, and here for you always. Happy Malaysia Day, folks, and a big thanks to all who joined us. Till the next one!

Destination: Unity! AirAsia celebrates Malaysia Day in true patriotic style, onboard ‘Keretapi Sarong’