By Atira Khalisha Nor Adnan
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- The 10th edition of Keretapi Sarong 2026 (KS26) in the capital today was enlivened by a variety of unique and amusing antics among participants.
Stealing the limelight was a six-year-old male cat named Tony, owned by A. Kanmani, 48, who brought her beloved feline to the event for the first time.
Adding to the charm was Tony’s outfit, which was not specially designed for pets but was actually a baby’s shirt meant for a three-month-old, chosen because of the cat’s size.
Kanmani said she decided to bring Tony along so that her beloved pet could also experience KS26, while she considered this year’s main venue at Raintree Plaza, TRX, to be a suitable and safe location for her pet.
“I wanted him to be part of Keretapi Sarong. This is his first time joining, but he behaved very well. I bought him a shirt for a three-month-old baby, and luckily, it fitted,” she told Bernama when met here today.
Kanmani said preparing Tony did not take long as she only had to put the shirt on him before they took an e-hailing service from Seri Petaling to the event venue.
Tony’s presence certainly attracted attention, with many people delighted to see the cat also “wearing a sarong” and joining the human participants in style.
Meanwhile, for some young people, the annual event held in conjunction with Malaysia Day celebrations provided a relaxed platform for creativity without having to spend much to showcase the country’s heritage.
Nur Narisha Nasuhah, 23, from Batang Kali, woke up as early as 5.30 am simply to experience the “party” atmosphere inside the train carriages, despite having only a borrowed sarong.
“I just wore my old shirt as long as it fitted the concept, while the sarong belonged to my mother. Once we boarded the train, we could dance and sing together... all the tiredness from waking up early just disappeared,” she said, excited to be part of the celebrations after previously only watching them on social media.
The enjoyment of the spontaneous “concert” inside the train carriage was also shared by Nurul Hazirah Anis Muhammad Tan, 38, who took part in the event for the third time, travelling from Kajang MRT station.
“It was so lively, I really enjoyed the vibe! Travelling together with everyone dressed in sarongs was truly unique. People were also singing nostalgic songs on the train. I feel really fortunate to be Malaysian,” she said.
This year’s 10th edition of KS26 also expanded to 10 cities nationwide, including three new locations -- Padang Besar, Langkawi and Kuching -- bringing the concept closer to communities outside the Klang Valley.
-- BERNAMA