Armed Forces To March United In Bagpipe Band For 2025 national Day Parade

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- The 2025 National Day celebration will feature a unique highlight when the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), for the very first time, will present a combined bagpipe performance involving all three branches of service – the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The three-minute presentation will take place in front of the main stage (royal box), covering three songs, namely 'Anak Kampung', 'Lemak Manis' and 'Bekikis Bulu Betis'.

Lieutenant Colonel (DOM) Badelisham Md Juda, the contingent leader, said the ensemble consisted of 130 members, combining 80 bagpipers, and a corps of 40 drummers and 10 drum majors.

"The performance also features three female bagpipers from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

"Although there are differences in attire between the three services, it was easy to find unity in music because the musicians have experience playing together, though not at a big event like this," he said at the National Day rehearsal at Dataran Putrajaya today.

He said the musical troupe started intensive music practice in early August, over three weeks at the Sungai Besi Camp.

He said during the march to the main stage, the bagpipe band would also play a tune before stopping for the official three-minute performance.

"After that, we will march on with another song," he said.

He also divulged that the very idea for the MAF bagpipes band came from no less than the Chief of Defence Force, General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, who wished to unite the MAF bagpipers as a captivating element in the 2025 National Day celebration.

Commenting on any challenges that may be faced during the main event, he did not deny that the weather on the day would play a role, as the bagpipes musical instrument was sensitive to rainwater.

"Actually, if it rains too heavily, it will disrupt our bagpipe performance. All of these (instruments) are very sensitive to rainwater," he said.

-- BERNAMA