Keretapi Sarong 23: A Colorful Celebration in Ipoh for Malaysia Day
By: Rosli Mansor and Ahmad Razali
IPOH: The residents of Ipoh are eagerly anticipating the upcoming Keretapi Sarong 23 (KS23) program, set to take place at the Ipoh Railway Station on Saturday, September 16, 2023.
The KS23 program, organized by the Ipoh Social Club in collaboration with Locco, is expected to bring vibrancy to the celebrations with the theme ‘ethnic’ in conjunction with Malaysia Day, running from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
This event is open to people of all backgrounds and ages, promising to capture the attention of the public, including foreign tourists.
The KS2023 program was initiated in 2012, encompassing various cities and stations throughout Malaysia simultaneously, including Putrajaya Sentral (KLIA Transit), Subang Jaya (LRT), Bandar Utama (MRT), Ampang (LRT), Gombak (LRT), Kajang (MRT), and KL Sentral (LRT).
Similar events have occurred simultaneously in major cities such as Ipoh (KTMB Ipoh), Johor Bahru (along the Sungai Segget), and Kuala Terengganu (Kampung Budaya Terengganu), as well as in London, United Kingdom (Battersea Power Station).
The uniqueness of this program lies in the participation of thousands of individuals using public transportation while wearing sarongs, whether they are batik or traditional clothes, representing the rich cultural heritage of Malaysia’s diverse communities.
The organization of this year’s program has received cooperation from various parties, including the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC), the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN), Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Rapid KL, Air Asia, Bulan Bintang, and Mr. D.I.Y.
In 2022, the Ipoh Railway Station came alive with the presence of 200 individuals showcasing fashion from the 1960s to the 1990s. It evoked nostalgia in the century-old colonial building, with several young people donning traditional sarong attire with a ‘village folk’ theme.
The ethnic concept this year is aimed at rekindling cultural memories and uniting the multi-ethnic and contemporary generations of today.
