Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri will exchange his motorcycle for a white horse when he leads the Royal Malaysia Police contingent at the 69th National Day Parade on August 31 at Dataran Putrajaya, representing a striking change in ceremonial presentation for the country's top law enforcement body. The director of the Department of Internal Security and Public Order (KDNKA) rode a high-performance BMW R 1250 RT motorcycle during last year's parade, but this year his mount will be Al-Sakb, a white stallion that will head a 595-officer detachment including senior and junior police ranks.
The shift towards traditional mounted units reflects a deliberate effort to blend heritage with modern policing symbolism. Leading the contingent will be the Federal Reserve Unit's Mounted Unit, comprising 20 officers and personnel supported by 20 horses, which will set the ceremonial tone for the broader police presence. This integration of equestrian tradition into contemporary security displays demonstrates how Malaysia's police force positions itself as rooted in national identity while maintaining operational relevance. The inclusion of the Mounted Unit serves not merely as pageantry but as a visual representation of PDRM's historical continuity stretching back to the force's colonial-era origins.
Mohd Yusri acknowledged the substantial personal adjustment required for the transition. Having previously commanded the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) from atop a motorcycle, he is now navigating the entirely different demands of leading on horseback as KDNKA director. The shift presents both practical and symbolic challenges, as riding at the head of a large contingent on a moving horse requires precise synchronisation with hundreds of supporting personnel and poses entirely different handling requirements than operating a motorised vehicle. In remarks to journalists following full-scale rehearsals, he characterised the change as representing a meaningful test of his administrative flexibility and personal capabilities.
Preparations have been intensive and methodical. Mohd Yusri disclosed that he has undergone more than one month of specialised training to ensure his horsemanship and parade technique meet the exacting standards appropriate for such a high-profile ceremonial role. This extended preparation period underscores the seriousness with which PDRM approaches the National Day presentation, viewing it not as mere spectacle but as a critical opportunity to communicate institutional competence and discipline to the Malaysian public. The training has encompassed not only his personal riding skills but coordination with the broader Mounted Unit to ensure that movement patterns remain coordinated and visually precise throughout the parade route.
Beyond the mounted display, the KDNKA contingent will showcase the full spectrum of PDRM's operational diversity and modernisation efforts. The General Operations Force (GOF) and the Air Operations Force will be represented, collectively demonstrating the range of capabilities available to Malaysia's police structure. This multi-dimensional presentation strategy allows the public and international observers to understand PDRM not as a static institution but as one engaged in ongoing technological and tactical evolution.
Notable among the assets making their parade debut are ten newly acquired All Terrain Tactical Assault E-Bikes (ATEB), cutting-edge electric motorcycles supplied to the GOF for security operations, border patrol missions, high-risk special operations and conflict management scenarios. These vehicles represent significant capital investment and technological commitment to modernised policing methods, particularly relevant given Malaysia's complex security landscape spanning both urban and frontier environments. Their inclusion in the parade sends a message about PDRM's responsiveness to contemporary security challenges and capacity to deploy advanced equipment across diverse operational theatres.
Aerial capabilities will be showcased through a planned flypast by an AW139 helicopter operated by PDRM's air arm, demonstrating the force's reach beyond ground-level operations. This element appeals to the public imagination while concretely illustrating PDRM's ability to project authority and surveillance capacity across the country's vast geography. For a nation with significant maritime zones and challenging terrain, such airborne capabilities represent a critical dimension of comprehensive security operations.
The canine component will demonstrate another specialised capability. Sixteen K9 Unit dogs, trained for narcotics detection, search and rescue, and security functions, will participate, showcasing the sophisticated integration of animal handlers and their charges into modern law enforcement. These animals represent years of training investment and operational partnership, illustrating how PDRM maintains diverse methodological approaches to complex security problems.
Mohd Yusri emphasised that this integration of traditional elements—such as mounted cavalry—with contemporary technology and elite force personnel projects an image of an institution confident in both its heritage and its future. The parade apparatus thus becomes a messaging platform communicating institutional continuity, modernisation and operational competence to domestic and international audiences. This composite approach reflects sophisticated understanding of how ceremonial displays function as vehicles for institutional narrative and public confidence-building.
The director called upon Malaysians to attend the parade with their families, characterising attendance as essential to enlivening the celebration and embracing national independence values. He indicated that preparations have proceeded optimally and that weather cooperation is being sought through prayer. The extensive rehearsals and training regimen suggest PDRM leadership takes the parade seriously as both ceremonial responsibility and opportunity to demonstrate institutional excellence to the Malaysian public and international observers. The culmination of these preparations will unfold on August 31, when Mohd Yusri's white horse will lead hundreds of officers and a technological showcase across Dataran Putrajaya.
