PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): When night falls on Putrajaya, beams of blue, yellow, red and white lights will brightly illuminate famous landmarks here - the Perdana Putra building, Seri Wawasan Bridge, Seri Saujana Bridge and the fountain at Putrajaya Lake.

       This has been the colourful scenario at the four iconic locations in Putrajaya from 7pm to midnight everyday since Aug 7, and will continue until Sept 16, a setting that not only adds gaiety, but also invokes the spirit of patriotism in conjunction with the National Month before the country celebrates its 64th National Day on August 31.

       Civil servant Airene Alang, 35, said that with the current Covid-19 pandemic, there are constraints for Malaysians to express their patriotic spirit.

       "But, by looking at the Perdana Putra building with lights of the colours of the Malaysian flag illuminating it, it invokes a patriotic feeling of wanting to celebrate National Day,” he told Bernama.

       Airene, who resides in Precinct 18, said the event he would miss dearly at this coming National Day celebration would be the National Day parade.

       "I’ll miss the colourful parade and airshow, especially the formation by the fighter jets,” he added.

       Siti Paridah Busairi, 34, said she was captivated by the colours of the Jalur Gemilang that lit up the Seri Wawasan Bridge and it reminded her of the National Month.

       "To some extent, the decorative lights of the colours of the Jalur Gemilang invoke the spirit of patriotism in whoever sees it.

       "We need to be grateful as Malaysian citizens because even though we are being tested by the Covid-19 pandemic, we are still able to live in peace and harmony,” she added.

       On the meaning of independence, Siti Paridah said the Covid-19 pandemic taught her to appreciate the freedom she had been enjoying.

       "Prior to this, we take for granted the freedom to move around, like going shopping, spending time with family, hanging out with friends at restaurants and traveling to all interesting places in the country and abroad, and now, being confined for a long time at home made the meaning of freedom more meaningful to me,” she said.

       Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) president Datuk Muhammad Azmi Mohd Zain said the lighting at the four iconic locations was made under the "Pencahayaan Malam Putrajaya” programme in conjunction with this year’s National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations.

       Apart from the four locations, several government and private buildings in Putrajaya are also illuminated with External to Festive Light (Warm White) and internal lighting (indoor lighting) to enliven the National Month celebration this year, he said.

       According to him, 31 buildings including the Federal Territories Ministry, Finance Ministry, Palace of Justice, Transport Ministry and Dorsett Hotel Putrajaya were illuminated with warm white light, while three buildings - Putrajaya International Convention Center (PICC), Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque and the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department in Precinct 3 - are illuminated with internal lighting. - Bernama