By Anne Das
On 15 August, residents of Taman Harmoni Buntong came together to celebrate National Month with a display of flags, community spirit and support for families in need.
Organised by the Taman Harmoni Buntong Residents’ Association, the programme included the installation and raising of the Jalur Gemilang and Perak state flags ahead of Malaysia’s 2026 National Day celebrations.
Preparations began with residents working together to attach the flags to long wooden poles. Children, adults and senior residents then gathered on the open ground, each carrying either the Jalur Gemilang or the Perak flag.
Around 80 residents and guests took part. The flag-raising ceremony brought different generations and members of the neighbourhood’s multiracial community together in a shared expression of patriotism.
The gathering also gave residents an opportunity to meet, share a meal and celebrate the meaning of Merdeka as one community.
During the event, the association received a mock cheque for RM2,000 from the Ipoh City Council to help fund the programme.
The association thanked Ipoh Mayor Zamakhshari Hanipah and MBI councillor Sivam Kalimuthu for supporting the neighbourhood initiative.
The celebration also included assistance for residents facing financial difficulties. Rows of food boxes were arranged beneath the event tent for distribution to selected households.
Buntong assemblywoman Thulsi Manogaran contributed 30 boxes of dry food supplies to selected B40 families in Taman Harmoni Buntong.
Muhammad Faiz Abdullah, chairman of the Taman Harmoni Buntong Residents’ Association, said the programme carried an important message about national unity and responsibility towards others.
“Independence belongs to all of us. Through programmes such as this, we want residents to come together and show their love for the country while also caring for families who are in need,” he said.
The celebration was held in line with the official theme for National Day and Malaysia Day 2026, “Malaysia MADANI: Kesejahteraan Dinikmati” (“Malaysia MADANI: Well-being Enjoyed by All”).
The Taman Harmoni Buntong Residents’ Association thanks everyone who supported the programme.
