Hundreds of participants showed up for Keretapi Sarong fashionably dressed in various colours and styles of the traditional fabric to board the train in Kuala Lumpur recently.
Held for the third year, Keretapi Sarong is modelled after the No Pants Subway movement in New York that mobilised people to wear anything but pants on the train in 2009.
Participants were informed of the meeting location a day prior to the event and they then hopped onto the LRT train, where they also performed a few tasks listed by the organizers.
“We had to sing Rasa Sayang together with everyone on the platform once we reached the Pasar Seni station but everyone got carried away and sang in the train on our way there, too.
“Everyone had so much energy,” said a first-timer participant, Jeremy Nathan, who had no clue what to expect.
Also new to the party were Capital FM announcers Non, Isabel Taye, Ashley Chan and Pamela Chong, who came dressed in purple T-shirts and sarongs.
“We have interviewed the organisers and we have heard so much about it, but never had the chance to experience what Keretapi Sarong was all about,” said Non.
Producer Jonathan Case felt it was a good way of getting to know more people in a healthy way.
“Shy people like me usually don’t go around mixing and talking to others and this is a great way to bring Malaysians closer together,” he said.
The organizers also got participants to sing local songs such as Wau Bulan, Rasa Sayang and Here In My Home, and most participants followed with ease.
Lyrics to the songs were also provided, hence, there was no excuse in not being able to sing along.
Participants had to perform other tasks such as pretending to be a chicken, and have his or her photo taken by others, greeting someone who was not wearing a sarong and taking a selfie.
Missed it? Participate next year!
[Source]
