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