KUALA LUMPUR — Bukit Damansara residents will mark the National Day celebrations with a community-focused event on September 12, featuring a morning walk and an evening programme designed to foster closer ties among neighbours.
The two-part celebration, dubbed BD Merdeka Walk and BD Merdeka Beats, is being organised in conjunction with Bulan Kebangsaan and hosted by Bukit Damansara residents’ chief Khairy Jamaluddin, better known as KJ.
In a recent Instagram post, the former health minister invited residents to take part in the event, which aims to encourage neighbours to connect and celebrate Merdeka together.
“Calling all Bukit Damansara 50490 peeps.
“Let’s get to know one another better in conjunction with our Bulan Kebangsaan,” he said.
The morning walk will begin at 7am at the community centre, with free T-shirts provided to the first 200 registered participants.
Organisers will also hold a best-dressed competition, with residents encouraged to wear outfits inspired by the Merdeka theme.
The evening festivities will begin after Maghrib prayers and include live band performances, appearances by local school performers, food trucks, communal dining activities and a fireworks display.
“So let’s break the ice and celebrate our nation and neighbourhood together!” Khairy said.
In a video shared by Khairy, he is featured in a humorous sketch with another resident, played by his long-time personal aide Raja Syahrir Raja Abu Bakar, better known as “Bobby”.
The sketch follows a series of encounters between Khairy and the resident around the neighbourhood, where the resident repeatedly ignores Khairy’s greetings, prompting Khairy to jokingly label him “sombong” (pompous).
The light-hearted video sets the tone for the upcoming celebration, encouraging residents to break down social barriers and get to know one another better within the community.
The initiative received positive feedback from residents, with several users praising the effort to bring the neighbourhood closer.
One user, @shahrizatjalil, described the initiative as a reflection of leadership, while another suggested that similar community programmes should be organised in other neighbourhoods.
Another user, @n_shidao803, noted that neighbours today were not as connected as they once were.
The celebration comes after Khairy held a town hall session with Bukit Damansara residents, where he heard concerns over development approvals, traffic congestion, parking issues, water disruptions and other long-standing neighbourhood matters. – September 4, 2026