National Day 2023 celebration artistic director doesn't let disability stand in his way

PUTRAJAYA - Being disabled has not prevented artistic and concept director of the National Day 2023 celebration, Rosnan Nordin, from carrying out his duties to the best of his ability and ensuring that all the acts planned for the event go off without a hitch.

Rosnan who is also the deputy director-general (Culture and Arts) of the National Department for Culture and Arts, said he was proud to be the first person with disabilities (PwD) to be in charge of the whole concept of the National Day celebration.

The 58-year-old Penang native, when met by Bernama recently, said that he had his left leg amputated last June due to a bacterial infection.

"I always hold on to the principle of ‘passion to work for country, not for recognition’.

"If I seek recognition, I don’t think I’ll be able to fulfil this trust in my current physical condition,” said Rosnan, who often steals attention when he appears on the main stage in a wheelchair overseeing the participants practicing for this year’s National Day celebration at Dataran Putrajaya here.

Rosnan, who has been involved in the planning of National Day celebrations for the past 20 years, said that he and his team would usually begin conceptualising the event a year in advance.

"The planning for this year’s event began immediately after the National Day 2022 celebration was concluded.

"As in previous years, the National Day and Malaysia Day Celebration Working Committee will ask me to come up with a concept for the National Day 2023 celebration,” said Rosnan, who is assisted by 60 staff members.

According to Rosnan, every year, the chosen theme would serve as the ‘soul’ of the National Day celebration and would be interpreted in every facet of the event, from dancing and singing performances to acrobatic displays by security personnel and the parade.

He said that for this year’s celebration, which carries the theme 'Malaysia Madani: Tekad Perpaduan Penuhi Harapan' (Determination in Unity, Fulfilling Hope), the Malaysia Madani Unity Contingent comprising 1,000 participants of various ethnicities from the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak would take part in the parade.

The parade will also feature the Economic Contingent, which is made up of government-linked companies (GLCs), government-linked investment companies (GLICs), as well as telecommunication and banking companies.

Rosnan said the event on Aug 31 would also feature various other interesting performances, including the parachute display by Royal Malaysia Police VAT69 commandos, adding that overall, over 19,000 participants would be involved in the National Day 2023 celebration.

This year will be Putrajaya’s fifth time hosting the National Day celebration, after 2003, 2005, 2018 and 2019. - BERNAMA