By: Nurul Ezzaty Mohd Azhari
Photo: Mohammad Izrul Abdul Jabar
SERDANG, August 30 - After two years of not having a mass National Day celebration, the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Arts & Cultural Centre (PKKSSAAS) square, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), is once again resonated with the shouts of Merdeka full of patriotism amongst the local community and UPM community.
The 65th Ambang Merdeka (Merdeka eve) Patriotisme@PUTRA celebration at the university was celebrated with great gusto to express the love of the UPM community for the country and to express patriotism within.
The seven shouts of 'Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!' by UPM Vice-Chancellor, YH. Prof. Dato' Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman, at midnight, were enthusiastically welcomed by local visitors and the UPM community who filled the UPM PKKSSAAS square.
Prof. Dato' Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman said August 31 is a historical date that the campus staff and students must fully appreciate to cultivate their identity in igniting the spirit of independence.
"Thank you to the UPM staff and students and all parties, including the Serdang community, who were able to attend the 65th Ambang Kemerdekaan celebration at UPM last night.
"Indeed, this reflected our spirit and love for a sovereign and independent country," he said.
He said independence is not only about having freedom from being physically colonised, but independence is also about having freedom from being colonised mentally as well as freeing oneself from meaningless things.
The Ambang Merdeka celebration was also filled with various exciting activities, such as fireworks, patriotism and unity talk and the Rukun Negara recitation. -UPM
