PUTRAJAYA: The 2018 Merdeka celebration here today came to an end with a rousing rendition of the song Malaysia by pop star Faizal Tahir.
It is learnt that the patriotic song was written and composed by Faizal himself.
Some 600 dancers accompanied the music, which brought the grand ceremony to a close at 10am.
They comprised cultural and artistic groups from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Soka Gakkai Malaysia and Malaysia Indian Dance.
Other patriotic songs performed were Setia, Keranamu Malaysia, Kita Punya Malaysia and the national anthem Negaraku.
The national-level celebration came to end after two hours of vibrant dance performances, an impressive march past and a riveting fly past.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V left Dataran Putrajaya at 10.15am, followed by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
Malaysia - lyrics
Aku pertahan sepenuh jiwa dan raga oh tanah airku
Aku berikan semua dan sesungguhnya oh tanah airku
Ku Malaysia
Malaysia
Ku pertahankan sepenuhnya Malaysia
Selamat datang semua
Ini masa kita
Tunduk berhemah
Bukannya lemah
Selamat datang semua
Ini masa kita
Di mata dunia
Luar biasa
Ku Malaysia
Malaysia
Ku pertahankan sepenuhnya Malaysia
Malaysia... Malaysia
Padamu ku setia
Tetap di hati selamanya
Aku Malaysia
Malaysia
Ku pertahankan sepenuhnya Malaysia
Aku pertahan sepenuh jiwa dan raga oh tanah airku
Aku berikan semua dan sesungguhnya oh tanah airku
Malaysia
Reporting by Hashini Kavishtri Kannan, Mohd Husni Mohd Noor, Zanariah Abd Mutalib and Noor Atiqah Sulaiman