KUALA PILAH: It has been the tradition for Mohamad Latif Atan in the last 12 years to express his love for the nation by putting up Jalur Gemilang around his house in Kampung Tanjung Ipoh, near here, every August.

       The 64-year-old government pensioner and his wife Rahimah Abu Bakar, 60, started collecting the flags when they were still working and now they have about 200 flags of numerous sizes.

       “Collecting the flag is my hobby. Each time I got my salary, I would buy the flag. This is to express my appreciation to those who had fought for our nation’s independence and sovereignty,” he said.

       Mohamad Latif said seeing the Jalur Gemilang waving in the compound of his house from Aug 1 to Sept 16 each year has given him a sense of pride as a Malaysian.

       “Although we are not having the large-scale Independence Day celebrations due to the pandemic, we can still celebrate it in our own way such as putting up the flags and wearing traditional clothes,” the father of three added.

       Meanwhile, an army retiree decorated his family’s food stall in Johol with 30 Jalur Gemilang and the flags of each state.

       Nasharudin Zakaria, 55, said it had been a ritual for him to decorate Warung Mak Dara every Merdeka to demonstrate his patriotic spirit in the last 10 years.

       “I have spent about RM200 to buy the flags this year and I don’t mind spending money on this. The flags will stay up until Malaysia Day,” he said.

       Nasharudin said decorating his stall with the flags has also become a good way to attract customers.

       He said the public could still celebrate Independence Day by putting up flags on vehicles and buildings despite the absence of the Merdeka Day parade.