JITRA: KAMPUNG Natoi, here, is looking more and more colourful as villagers decorate their homes with Jalur Gemilang for the Merdeka celebrations.
There are Jalur Gemilang of various sizes at the village’s entrance.
Village Development and Security Council chairman Abdul Rashid Shafie, 50, said they started decorating the village on Aug 16.
He said they always looked forward to the month of August and took pride in decorating the village with Jalur Gemilang.
He said they had been doing it for 14 years.
“In 2006 and 2007, Kampung Natoi emerged as the winner in the Kubang Pasu district-level Merdeka Decoration Contest.
“It was the proudest moment for the villagers,” he said.
He said this year’s Merdeka celebrations would be toned down out of respect for the victims of the MH370 and MH17 tragedies.
“There were activities such as traditional and telematch-style games in previous years. However, this time around, we will host a special prayer and Yasin recital,” he said.
Aziz Man, a 63-year-old villager, said all 84 houses in the village had been decorated with Jalur Gemilang .
“It is a way to show our patriotism. We will definitely see more flags here as Aug 31 approaches,” said Aziz, who has been living at the village for three decades.
Kampung Natoi was founded in 1841 by a Thai national called Nai Mat.
Natoi comes from the Thai words Na which means padi field and Toi which referring to the mengkuang plant.