PETALING JAYA, 14 September 2016 – A total of 60 volunteer students of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) took part in the Anak Merdeka 2016 Travelling Charity Programme (PATRIOT’16) starting today until 18 September 2016.

PATRIOT’16 Director General, Muhammad Athir Adib Zulfakor said they were joined by 64 motorcyclists from the Gagasan Anak Malaysia Bikers (GAMB), the National Civics Bureau or Biro Tatanegara and Superbike Association of Malaysia (SAM).

He said the convoy will stop at several destinations such as Putrajaya Federal Territory, Penang, Terengganu, Johor and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur on an approximate 2074.7 kilometer route.

“The real objectives of PATRIOT’16 was to get the financial resources to fill the Heroes Fund, to organize Jalur Gemilang waving together with Health Awareness campaigns and Short-Term study of Patriotism.

“In addition, we also conducted outreach programmes such as approaching and fixing the armed forces veterans’ houses with the collaboration from IM4U,” he said.

Muhammad Athir said that they were also trying to set a record for the longest Malaysian flag with hands prints with more than  a 1 kilometer cloth contributed by Setiawangsa Member of Parliament (MP), Datuk Ahmad Fauzi Hj. Zahari.

“Local communities at the every stopover destination such as Bagan Datoh, Kepala Batas, Setiu and Rompin can put their hand prints on the cloth provided.

“The flag will be on display at UTM Johor Bahru campus for public viewing when we get there later on 18 September 2016,” he said.

PATRIOT’16 aimed at instilling patriotism among Malaysians and encourage the waving of the Jalur Gemilang in conjunction with the 59th Merdeka Month celebration of Malaysia.

The convoy was officially released in Bandar Utama Damansara by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Alumni, Prof. Datuk Dr. Ismail Abd. Aziz, Director of National Civics Bureau, Datuk Ibrahim Saad and Setiawangsa Member of Parliament (MP), Datuk Ahmad Fauzi Hj. Zahari.