Malaysians celebrate National Day, parade of over 10,000 at Batu Kawan Penang

 

 

EVERY year on Aug 31, Malaysians celebrate National Day, the day our country gained independence in 1957. The word “merdeka” means freedom, and it reminds us of the courage of those who fought for our country’s independence.

This year’s National Day celebrations will take place at Dataran Putrajaya in Putrajaya. The theme for the upcoming celebrations is Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni, emphasising inclusivity and unity.

On National Day, the whole nation comes alive with flags, parades and fireworks. Streets and schools are decorated with the Jalur Gemilang, our national flag.

You can see people waving small flags, wearing clothes in red, blue, yellow and white, and joining in fun activities to show their love for Malaysia.

One of the most exciting parts of National Day is the parade. Soldiers, police, school children and cultural performers march through the streets, often accompanied by music, drums and colourful floats.

Traditional dances and performances also showcase the rich culture of Malaysia, from the Minangkabau in Negri Sembilan to the Ibans in Sarawak.

National Day is also a time to remember our history. Long ago, Malaysia was made up of separate states under British rule.

Leaders Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-haj, Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Tun V. T. Sambanthan played important roles in our country’s independence, and on Aug 31, 1957, the Union Jack was lowered, and the Jalur Gemilang was raised for the very first time.

For children, National Day is a fun and exciting day. You can make flags and join school performances. You can also sing patriotic songs like Negaraku or this year’s theme song, Malaysia Madani Rakyat Disantuni (Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza). It is a day to feel proud of our country and understand the meaning of freedom.

We received many letters from Starchild readers on the topic, National Day. We will run the second batch of letters next week.

Michelle Tan Mei Kuan, 10, writes, “To celebrate the 68th Hari Kebangsaan, we have decorated our classroom with the Jalur Gemilang and will prepare a small party. Everyone is encouraged to bring food from home to share with our classmates. We are allowed to wear our traditional clothes, making the celebration even more colourful and meaningful. Before the party begins, my class teacher will encourage us to find the meaning of Malaysia’s Hari Kebangsaan.

“We will then share what the word ‘Madani’ means to us, reflecting on important values such as unity, respect and progress. It will be a special day where we proudly honour our country’s independence and celebrate the true spirit of being Malaysian.”

“I hope to watch the National Day parade on television with my family. I like seeing the soldiers, dancers and flags on the screen. National Day makes me happy and proud to be Malaysian,” says Yuvann Marimuthu ,12.

Firasy Al-hawaariy Fakhruddin, nine, says: “Recently, my school had a celebration for National Day. We sang Negaraku and waved the Jalur Gemilang. Happy National Day, everyone.”

Six-year-old Fahri Al-humaidi Fakhruddin, writes: “My parents have put up the Malaysian flag outside our house in Semenyih, Selangor. I hope to watch fireworks together on

National Day. Selamat Hari Merdeka, Starchild friends!”

Five-year-old Maryam El-haura Fakhruddin says:

“In kindergarten, we made small flags for National Day. We also coloured pictures of Malaysia’s map.”

Youngest sibling Fadi Al-hylmi Fakhruddin, two, says: “Selamat Hari Merdeka!”

Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 12, “My classmates and I are making origami birds and drawing small Malaysian flags to hang around our classroom. We also created posters and showcased our creativity based on this year’s 68th Merdeka 2025 celebration and the theme, Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni. Besides that, we decorated the room with red, white, blue and yellow balloons and even wrote patriotic quotes on the walls. The classroom feels festive and full of Malaysian pride!”

Elirose Paulina Arulandan, eight, writes: “Merdeka means freedom, and it reminds me that our country worked hard to be independent. Every time I see the Jalur Gemilang, I feel proud to be Malaysian.”

ITEM: Butterflies are some of the most beautiful insects in the world. They have colourful wings and flutter gracefully from flower to flower. Do you like butterflies too? Starchild readers, share with us three fun facts you know about butterflies.

Email your contributions to lifestyle@thestar.com.my by Sept 12. Please put “STARCHILD: Butterflies” in the subject line of your email. Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi.

Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.

National Day parade of over 10,000 at Batu Kawan Penang

The crowd snapping photos and watching the parade of armoured vehicles during last year’s state-level National Day celebrations at the Esplanade in George Town, Penang. — Filepic

The 68th National Day state- level parade in Batu Kawan, Penang, will feature nearly 150 contingents and over 10,000 participants.

State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Law Choo Kiang said the four-hour celebration themed Madani Malaysia: Rakyat Disantuni (Caring for Citizens) will start at 7.30am tomorrow at the Penang State Stadium.

The celebration will reflect the government’s vision of strengthening national development through compassion, social well-being and justice, he said.

“The ‘Malaysia Madani’ concept balances material and spiritual progress, encompassing economic growth, integrity in governance and social unity. 

“‘Rakyat Disantuni’ emphasises the government’s commitment to prioritising the people’s welfare,” Law added in a media statement.

Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Ramli Ngah Talib, his wife Toh Puan Raja Noora Ashikin Raja Abdullah, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and various state leaders will be attending the celebration.

“This year’s parade will feature 122 marching contingents from various state and federal departments, statutory bodies, government-linked companies (GLCs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and 7,533 participants,” said Law. 

“There will be 22 vehicle contingents comprising 958 participants and 676 vehicles as well.

“A total of 10,072 individuals, including organising committees and working personnel, will be involved in the event,” he added.

The celebration, expected to be lively, will include an appearance by the SMJK Jit Sin choir, cultural dancers, the Muhibah Drum Ensemble and guard-of-honour unit of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.

There will also be 21 state and federal agency exhibition booths and a display of assets by the Fire and Rescue Department, police and the armed forces.

An estimated 10,000 visitors are expected at the event aimed at fostering national unity, patriotism and appreciation for the country’s achievements.

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Unhealthy sleep patterns

 

Here are six signs that your sleeping pattern is out of whack, and how to improve it.

T0ssing and turning throughout the night, even if you're not really conscious ot it, it is a sign of poor sleep

WE all experience the occasional late night or restless sleep, but when these nights become frequent, it can begin to take a toll on your health and overall well-being.

Britain’s The London General Practice sleep and circadian rhythm specialist Dr Katharina Lederle has outlined six key signs that indicate that your sleep pattern may be offbalance.

She has also shared some helpful tips and tricks on how to reset your routine to help you wake up feeling refreshed.

1. Waking up in the night

Frequently waking up too early or having regular interruptions during the night is a clear sign that your sleep has been disrupted.

“Waking up and going to the toilet once and then falling back asleep within a couple of minutes is fine, but if you are having a lot of toilet trips or just think ‘why have I been awake for such a long period of time’, and then struggle to get back to sleep, that suggests there might be a problem,” she says.

2. Restlessness

“If it takes you longer than 30 minutes to get to sleep on a regular basis, there could be an issue.

“One sign of poor sleep is restlessness – tossing and turning at night,” she says.

“You might not necessarily wake up fully and think I have been tossing and turning a lot, but the next day there may be an awareness of restlessness.

“Or if you have a sleeping partner, they might comment on your restlessness during the night.”

3. Busy mind

A busy mind can be a symptom of a poor sleep schedule, and vice versa.

“Stress can psychologically lead to busy thoughts – worrying about the future and replaying scenes from your day – which can make it harder to get to sleep,” says Dr Lederle.

“Stress can also physiologically lead to raised cortisol levels and a raised heart rate.

“However, what we actually want/need for sleep is the exact opposite. We need relaxation to allow ourselves to let go of everything.”

4. Low mood

Feeling low or down during the day can be another indication that your sleep pattern has been disrupted.

“The resources in the brain are all finite and need to be rebuilt.

“So, if your prefrontal cortex [which plays a crucial role in executive functions and higherorder cognitive processes] is sleep deprived, it can’t fulfil its regulatory role,” explains Dr Lederle.

“This often results in low mood, anxiety and irritability, which can then quite quickly lead to conflict or disagreements.”

5. Struggling to focus

“A lack of motivation and struggling to concentrate are some more signs of disrupted sleep that you may notice during the day,” she says.

“When the prefrontal cortex

nd hasn’t had the chance to rebuild all its resources, concentration can become hard.

“Seeing the bigger picture, attention to detail and switching attention intentionally can also become harder.”

6. Excessive tiredness

Feeling excessively tired throughout the day is likely to be a sign of disrupted sleep or accumulated sleep debt.

“Waking up and still feeling tired and groggy is sleep inertia, which we all experience to some extent.

“But if you repeatedly feel excessively tired without an

explanation, that could indicate a bigger problem,” says Dr Lederle.

Reset your routine

Here are some strategies to help your sleeping pattern get back on track:

>Expose yourself to light in the mornings

“When you wake up in the morning, let the light in and go outside,” she recommends

> Make your bedroom room dark and cool in the evenings

“Try to keep your sleeping environment quiet, dark and cool,” she advises.

Go to bed and wake up at regular times

“It’s okay to have some late nights when we go to the theatre or to a party, but on the whole, it’s important to keep your sleep and wake times as regular as possible,” says Dr Lederle.

> Expose yourself to light in the mornings

“When you wake up in the morning, let the light in and go outside,” she recommends. > Make your bedroom room dark and cool in the evenings

“Try to keep your sleeping environment quiet, dark and cool,” she advises.

> Think about what might be causing your stress

“Identify where your stress is coming from and think about what you can control,” suggests Dr Lederle.

“Think about: how can I recover? How can I let go of my work? How can I relax? How can I get a sense of autonomy or control?”

Engaging in an activity you enjoy before bed can provide a sense of autonomy and control, which may help lower your stress levels and help you drift off to sleep.

“It could be that your goal is to meditate and you start with doing five minutes every evening,” she says.

>Adjust eating times Stay active Seek help

“Eating late or eating sugary foods before bed can impact people’s ability to fall asleep,” she says.

“The general rule of thumb is to try and eat dinner at least three or four hours before you go to sleep.

“Having caffeine in the evening, or drinking too much during the day, can also make it harder to fall asleep.”

>Stay active

“Make sure you are moving throughout the day and try to avoid sitting on a chair for hours on end,” says Dr Lederle.

“Try to do some exercise to help release tension and stress from the body.”

“If we have a stressful event, it’s quite normal to have poor sleep.

> Seek help

“But if you are struggling to sleep for more than two weeks, start to think about what might be impacting your sleep,” she says.

“Then if your sleep hasn’t resolved after that, I would suggest speaking to a specialist.” – PA Media/dpa

By CAMILLA FOSTER

AI and job transformation in Malaysia: What's next?

 

Experts share that the impact of AI may be more nuanced than just simply replacing people at work. — This visual is human-created, AI-aided

In a discussion on an online forum, a freelance translator in Malaysia believes that he has fewer job opportunities now due to clients turning to AI.

Another individual in the same discussion claims that he was laid off due to his stance against using AI tools in the company.

In a separate conversation, a designer questioned whether he should resign as a sign of protest against his company’s increasing reliance on AI to generate content. Meanwhile, another user who handles accounting tasks at work says AI is taking over his role after the company adopted a new AI-powered processing system. He claims that the system has led to some colleagues being laid off and those who remain will be required to verify the work performed by AI.

In the comments section, other users have advised him to look for a new job elsewhere as he risks being replaced completely, or start showing more productivity in other aspects of his current work that cannot be done by AI.

These conversations found online reflect a growing concern among Malaysian workers as AI tools become a part of work.

Staying ahead

According to an Ipsos AI Monitor 2025 survey involving 500 Malaysian adults, 63% fear AI’s potential to replace their ­current job within the next three to five years.

“The fear of being replaced by AI is very real, and it’s completely valid,” says Edvance CEO Razin Rozman.

Fahad encourages employees to experiment with various generative AI tools to discover how they can boost productivity at work. — Randstad Malaysia

Randstad Malaysia country director Fahad Naeem says findings from his company’s Malaysia Employer Brand research, which surveyed 2,588 respondents, show that 5% now expect to lose their jobs due to AI.

“Despite this, the overall sentiment towards AI remains largely positive, as 48% of Malaysian workers said that AI has improved their job satisfaction this year,” adds Fahad.

According to NTT Data CEO Henrick Choo, the best way to navigate the fear of being replaced by AI is to embrace lifelong learning and adaptability. He says that he has seen employees transition from traditional support roles to newly-created positions in AI operations, product testing and customer success – often within just a few months.

“Focus on roles that rely on uniquely human skills like ­empathy, decision-making, ­critical thinking, and creativity which are areas where AI still lags behind,” says Choo in a statement to LifestyleTech.

His advice to individuals would be to start investing in digital ­fluency by learning to work alongside AI tools, adding that they should embrace continuous learning and stay updated on the latest tools, trends as well as ­governance practices.

“AI is not here to replace ­people, but to augment their capabilities. The most successful professionals will be those who understand how to leverage AI tools while asking the right ­questions about data ownership, ethical use, and value distribution,” adds Choo.

Razin shares that individuals who have successfully adapted to the rise of AI often share key qua­­lities such as adaptability, curiosity, and a mindset geared toward continuous learning. He also believes that basic AI literacy is becoming essential in the work place regardless of whether an employee is in a technical role.

Razin says those who have ­successfully adapted to the rise of AI usually have a mindset geared toward continuous learning. — Edvance

“We’ve seen many success stories, people who were once in roles like administrative support or basic data entry, who, through upskilling, moved into project management, digital marketing, or even junior AI operations roles.

“What helped them stand out was the learning itself and the mindset shift. They saw AI not as the end of their role, but the begin­­ning of a new one,” says Razin.

As for Fahad, he encourages employees to experiment with various generative AI tools to ­discover how they can boost ­productivity at work. He says exposure and experiences can help employees gain a deeper understanding of AI’s potential and limitations to anticipate how their roles might change.

“With the increasing integration of AI, talent should discuss with their managers how their career pathway may change. This involves identifying areas for deepening specialisation, mapping out training opportunities and having a pulse on how job responsibilities may evolve with increasing digital and AI disruption,” adds Fahad.

Fahad says the company’s 2025 Workmonitor report involving 503 res­­pon­­dents in Malaysia shows that 53% of talents trust their employers to invest and provide opportunities for continuous learning particularly in AI and technology. He adds that 56% of responders trust their ­employers to be transparent about business decisions that will impact their role.

“It is clear that while employers are excited about rolling out AI-powered tools and solutions, they should also be transparent and forthright about how AI will transform the company’s operations and processes, and more importantly, how it will impact the employees’ job security and career prospects,” says Fahad.

Redefining work roles

Experts share that the impact of AI may be more nuanced than just simply replacing people at work.

“Yes, we are definitely seeing AI reshape job functions in Malaysia though it’s less about outright replacement and more about redefinition,” says Choo.

Choo says the next five to 10 years will mark the rise of ‘hybrid intelligence’ where humans and AI collaborate as equal partners. — NTT Data

Razin shares a similar sentiment, where he says the company is also starting to see signs of generative AI changing the shape of the labour market in Malaysia.

“At this moment in time, we’re witnessing more of its impact on job transformation than full-on replacement,” he says.

Razin adds that repetitive or process-driven roles are being ­partially replaced or heavily ­supported by AI tools. He cites examples like some companies turning to AI to automate customer service by using chatbots or to perform document sorting or data entry.

According to Choo, Gen-AI ­powered chatbots and voicebots are now able to handle “up to 90% of fact-based customer ­service queries”, reducing the need for large call centre teams.

Razin adds that his company is also seeing ­changes in sectors like marketing, finance, education and tech services.

“These industries are adopting generative AI to speed up ­routine work, which means job scopes are evolving,” says Razin, adding that some local banks have ­started automating things like loan processing and ­compliance checks.

“So, rather than cutting jobs, they’re moving people into new roles that focus on oversight and analysis,” says Razin.

A 2024 national study by TalentCorp reveals that around 620,000 jobs – equivalent to 18% of formal sector roles in Malaysia – are expected to be significantly impacted by AI, digitalisation, and the green economy within the next three to five years.

The 72-page report highlights 14 roles including incident investigator, cloud administrator, and applications support engineer as among those on the High Impact list. It also listed 51 roles on the Medium Impact list such as IT audit manager, ­customer ­experience manager and data centre operations ­engineer.

In an article published by the World Economic Forum in June, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim highlights the report’s findings and says: “Workers ­currently in these roles require cross-skilling, upskilling or even reskilling.”

Why AI?

The machine may be better than people for specific tasks at work. Fahad says AI-based ­solutions are capable of ­processing large volumes of data and look at established ­patterns or past history to ­perform ­repetitive tasks. The key here, he says, is that AI is able to do so with better accuracy and consistency.

“These tools are highly applicable in tasks that require ­standardisation, speed, and scale. AI systems can also ­operate round-the-clock, which increases outcomes and greatly reduces time and cost,” Fahad adds.

According to an Ipsos AI Monitor 2025 survey involving 500 Malaysian adults, 63% fear AI’s potential to replace their ­current job within the next three to five years. — This visual is human-created, AI-aided

Choo explains that tasks that would normally take human teams days to do – such as fraud detection, code generation or content summarisation – can now be completed by AI in a shorter amount of time.

“Generative AI, in particular, is a strong performer when applied to structured domains: drafting documents, generating marketing visuals and videos, producing basic code, and ­summarising reports,” Choo says, adding that these tools operate best when provided with clear inputs and boundaries, making them highly viable in predictable scenarios.

Apart from processing huge volumes of data, Razin says advanced AI solutions are also capable of ­spotting trends across complex datasets and are ­capable of ­continuously learning through feedback loops.

What the future brings

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has made it known that Malaysia is committed towards becoming a leader in AI and digital transformation in the Asean region.

During the launch of the National AI Office last year, he emphasised that Malaysia must embrace the need for tech-­driven change.

“History has shown that industrial revolutions and ­technological advancements ­initially sparked anxiety but ­ultimately created more opportunities. This is why training and digital literacy are critical in equipping our workforce for these changes,” he said in his speech.

As for the challenges inherent in the use of AI, Anwar emphasised in an Aug 18 report by The Star that Malaysians have to face the hurdles head-on by emphasising humanistic ­values and critical thinking.

“We must not only focus on developing expertise but also on nurturing values,” he explains.

While Malaysia has made meaningful progress through frameworks like the National AI Roadmap and the Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDigital) with initiatives that reflect strong policy intent and direction, Razin says the pace of AI adoption in the workplace is outstripping both skills development and ­policy execution.

“One of the most urgent gaps is in talent. There’s growing demand for AI-literate professionals such as engineers, data scientists, prompt engineers, and ethics specialists, but education and training systems haven’t yet scaled to meet this demand.

“The workforce also lacks widespread access to affordable, high-quality upskilling pathways that align with the real-world applications of AI,” he adds.

Razin believes for Malaysia to truly thrive in the AI era – ­policies must be “adaptive, data-­informed, and shaped in collaboration with those building and using these tools daily”.

Choo says the next five to ten years will mark the rise of “hybrid intelligence” where humans and AI collaborate as equal partners. He believes new AI-driven roles that have emerged include AI assistant trainers (experts to finetune how AI behaves and communicates) and AI governance leads (to ­oversee bias, ethics and ­compliance).

“We see this across every ­function: marketers using GenAI to personalise outreach, analysts using AI to simulate future ­scenarios, and engineers working with AI to rapidly prototype ­innovations. The emphasis will shift from hard skills alone to cross-functional fluency; blending AI literacy with domain expertise,” adds Choo.

In Malaysia, Choo says AI transformation can also be seen in areas like healthtech, smart manufacturing and agritech where roles in digital twin ­modelling and data privacy are gaining traction.

“The future is not about who gets replaced, but who gets reimagined. With the right ­support, that can and should include everyone,” he concludes.-- By ANGELIN YEOH

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