PETALING JAYA: The Jalur Gemilang will take centrestage in the hearts and minds of Malaysians with the launch of the Raise The Flag campaign.

Star Media Group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai said the campaign would strengthen national pride among Malaysians of all ages and ethnicities.

'We are truly proud to be Malaysians,' he said, adding that no matter where Malaysians travel to, 'Malaysia is always home'.

Patriotic spirit: Wong waving the Jalur Gemilang alongside Chai (second from left) and his staff (from left) Azniza Anuwi, Pang Sian Kien and Pua Ai Lee during the campaign launch at Menara Star in Petaling Jaya.

While Malaysia is a melting pot of people of different religions and ethnicities, he said Malaysians still share 'commonalities'.

'We want to emphasise this: It doesn't matter what your race or religion is, we as a people have many similarities.

'We want to look at the positive side … the good side … and the values that we share.

'What binds us is that we are all Malaysians,' he said.

This National Day, he added, would be a 'special' one.

'First off, we're turning 60. And the upcoming SEA Games will be an exciting event,' Wong said, noting that Malaysian athletes' recent string of record-breaking feats had greatly sweetened the mood.

The launch yesterday saw a touching moment when Wong and the VIPs literally 'raised the flag' on flagpoles and saluted the Jalur Gemilang.

It also debuted a video clip of a mash-up of two patriotic songs, Jalur Gemilang and Saya Anak Malaysia, sung by StarTV reporters and videographers.

Tribute to the nation: Wong with (from left) Koong, Salim and Ameer raising the Jalur Gemilang on flagpoles.

Joining in were some captains of industry from the main sponsor for Raise The Flag - Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd and co-sponsor Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB).

Partners from Sunsuria Bhd and Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd were also present.

Aset Kayamas executive director Michael Chai and MRCB group managing director Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din were alongside Wong at the Star Gallery in Menara Star.

They were joined by Sunsuria executive director and CEO Koong Wai Seng, as well as Mydin Mohamed Holdings managing director Datuk Ameer Ali.

Chai said Aset Kayamas wanted to support the Raise the Flag campaign as the company always had the wellbeing of Malaysians at its core.

'Our company started out building affordable homes because we wanted to help Malaysians buy affordable homes.

'Through this campaign, we hope to help the country even more,' he said.

MRCB corporate communications head and general manager Mohaini Mohd Yusof said MRCB had always been supportive of initiatives that promote patriotism and love for Malaysia.

'The Raise The Flag campaign is good because it creates awareness for the public to see what Malaysians have done for the country,' she said.

Celebrities such as Najwa Latif, Suria FM deejays Fizi, Suraya and Tyzo, and 988 deejay Chloe Low also joined in the festivities.

Under the Raise The Flag campaign, special four-page spreads will enable Malaysians to cut out and assemble their own mini flags.

Look out for the first print on Monday.

On the same day, there will also be T-shirt templates included in the newspaper centrespread. Decorate them with a Malaysian motif, be photographed 'wearing' the T-shirt while holding the flags and use the hashtag #RaiseTheFlagMY on social media.

Prizes await the best photos.

To bulk order any of the special Raise The Flag issues slated for July 28, Aug 12, Aug 18 and Sept 14, contact The Star's Customer Care unit at 1300 887 827 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm).

Star Media Group Bhd published this content on 21 July 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 24 July 2017 03:59:08 UTC.

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