5 Events & Things to Do This Month to Celebrate Merdeka

It’s that time of the year again to start singing “Tanggal 31, Bulan lapan, 57, merdeka, merdeka!” Yes, we’re talking about Sudirman’s iconic song ‘Tanggal 31’. Can you believe that 31 August is almost upon us ? This means that it’s time to celebrate our 66th year of independence.

To fully embrace the Merdeka spirit, here is a list of five things to do:

1. Visit the new Atma Kirana installation at the Balai Seni Negara

Abdul Shakir, also known as ‘Grasshopper/Belalang’, is one of the leading multi-disciplinary multimedia artists in Malaysia whose works seek to explore the intersection between art, technology and immersive experiences. You can now experience his latest digital art installation, Atma Kirana, which means beautiful soul in Ancient Malay/Sanskrit language. The installation is a visualisation of the essence of our Rukun Negara and a contemporary representation of the nation’s unity and cultural richness using LED panels infused with vibrant colour and energy.

Date: 9 August – 30 October

Venue: Balai Seni Negara (National Art Gallery)

Free admission

2. Watch the Dondang Dongeng Music Show, A Retelling of Malaysian Folklore

You may be familiar with English folklore such as Robin Hood, but did you know that Malaysia has its own vibrant folklore? Curated for children of all ages, the show shares stories like the smart and mischievous Sang Kancil and legends of beautiful local princesses through songs and tunes.

Date & Time: Friday, 25 August: 8.30pm, Saturday, 26 August: 3.00pm & 8.30pm

Venue: Stage 1, PJ PAC, 1 Utama Shopping Centre

Ticket prices start from RM68 and can be purchased here. Follow them on Instagram

3. Check Out the Gerak Bayang Exhibition|The Art of Storytelling

Wayang kulit, or the traditional form of puppet-shadow play may be harder to come upon, but it is important to ensure the art of fellow puppeteers and shadow puppets remain alive. The exhibition revolves around the design and elements of traditional shadow puppets, which characters were then translated onto canvas, with some of the artists utilising new media methods to bring tales to life. More than 35 artists including Nik Zainal Abidin, Long Thien Shih, Ismail Mat Hussin, Masnoor Ramli Mahmud, Adeputra, Haris Abadi, and Ismail Awi have come together to bring the tales of yore to life.

Date: 19 August 2023 – 28 January 2024

Time: 10am – 5pm, closed Monday

Venue: Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery (BNM MAG), Level 3, Sasana Kijang

Visit their website here.

4. Play Malaysian Card Games & Board Games

If you’re more of a homebody who prefers to avoid crowds, you can also celebrate Merdeka from the comfort of your own home. Creative Malaysian minds have come up with numerous games that locals will appreciate and will give you a few hours of fun. Here are a few of our picks:

• Kantin Wars

From the co-creator of The Cikgu Life, comes a game inspired by a real food fight that broke out in a school canteen. This game brings back nostalgia about snacks you enjoyed in school, while also allowing you to sabo the people around you. Buy the game at RM109.99 on Shopee.

• Kaki Lima

This light strategy game inspired by walking around Penang's Georgetown, Kaki Lima is about pedestrians navigating their way through a grid of five-foot ways. Buy the game at RM138 on Shopee.

• Politiko

It was released a decade ago, but it is still a relevant game, especially with the recent state elections. They released their 3.0 version last year where you can play Malaysian politics, literally! Choose a political party and do your best to lead them to victory. You can purchase the game on its official website for RM65.

5. Watch a Malaysian Movie

If you still prefer Western, Korean, or Chinese movies, this might be the time for you to discover the charm of our very own Malaysian movies. After all, movies such as Abang Adik have been making waves overseas and winning international prizes. It’s time to be a coach potato and press play on these movies:

• Ola Bola

The film was inspired by the glories of the Malaysia national football team which successfully entered the 1980 Summer Olympics. In order to do so, the multi-racial members of the team went through adversity, both personally and as a team. Watch Ola Bola On Demand on Astro.

• Paskal

One of the 10 top-grossing Malaysian films of all time, the military action film is based on the true story of an elite unit of the Royal Malaysian Navy, when one of its own staged a hijacking. Watch the movie on Netflix.

• Talentime

No one really captures the charm and spirit of our country like the late Yasmin Ahmad. This movie is the last one from the legendary director which brings together the hearts of a mixed-Malay girl and an Indian boy for the Talentime school competition. Watch the movie on Netflix.

• Malbatt: Misi Bakara (24 August)

We were lucky enough to attend the press conference for Malbatt: Misi Bakara, the next Adrian Teh blockbuster after his successful war film Paskal. The film tells the tale of the 19th Royal Malay Regiment who were deployed to the Bakara Markets in Somalia to rescue the passengers of a downed American helicopter. The film was made with a budget of RM20 mil and will be out in time for us to watch it and to feel some Malaysian pride.

Image credit: politikothegame.com, @kantinwars, @dondangdongeng