Datuk Seri Aliff Syukri leads Shopee's inaugural contingent, with MadNor as flag bearer, in celebration of national pride and Malaysia's entrepreneurial spirit

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 3 September 2026 - Shopee marked its first participation in Malaysia's National Day Parade with a contingent celebrating the people helping to move the country forward, from home-grown entrepreneurs and digital creators to the employees supporting Malaysia's growing digital economy. 

Leading the Shopee contingent was Malaysian entrepreneur Datuk Seri Aliff Syukri Kamarzaman, with content creator Muhammad Noor Zakaria, better known as MadNor, as flag bearer. They were joined by 45 Shopee employees from across the business. As the Shopee contingent made its way along the parade route, it was greeted with cheers and applause from spectators, marking a memorable National Day Parade debut for Shopee.

Together, the contingent brought to life the spirit of Shopee Juara Lokal, Shopee's Merdeka campaign celebrating the determination, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of Malaysians. Shopee's first participation in the national parade was both a celebration of national pride and a salute to the local entrepreneurs and communities the platform has grown alongside in Malaysia.

At the head of the contingent, Datuk Seri Aliff represented the entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of Shopee Juara Lokal. Founder of health and beauty brand D'Herbs and fondly known to many Malaysians as "Papa Terlajak Laris," his journey reflects the ambition of local business owners who have built brands from the ground up and continue to find new ways to grow.

"Before this, I was always just watching the parade from the sidelines, so to finally experience it for myself was really something special," said Datuk Seri Aliff. "People may only see five minutes of the parade, but behind those five minutes are days of rehearsals, early mornings and a lot of teamwork. Once we were in formation, it didn't matter what your title or background was - we were all Malaysians, celebrating Merdeka together. For me, that's what made the experience truly meaningful."

Carrying the Shopee flag was MadNor, a Malaysian content creator known for his humorous, straight-talking advice to Gen Z on spending and everyday money matters. "Being able to represent Shopee at this year's Merdeka Parade is something I'm really grateful for. I never imagined that my journey into the digital and content space would give me the chance to be part of an event like this," said MadNor. "Marching alongside my fellow Malaysians in the Shopee contingent felt like I was representing everyone who took a chance on themselves and dared to dream bigger. To me, that's what Malaysia is about - ordinary people doing extraordinary things."

For the 45 Shopee employees marching alongside them, the occasion was just as personal. Thines Kumar, described it as "an unforgettable experience" to march alongside colleagues and fellow Malaysians. On the other hand, Delphinie Chan who helped coordinate the contingent - beginning with recruitment, all the way until the rehearsals and the actual day - said seeing everyone's hard work come together on parade day was "truly inspiring".

For Zulaikha Zainul, she finally fulfilled a long-held wish to take part in the parade.

"I've always wanted to be part of the Merdeka parade. Growing up, I only got to watch it on screen," said Zulaikha. "Having grown up overseas for part of my life, my friends always teased me for being 'not Malaysian enough', so I guess this was my chance to prove them wrong! It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a special way to feel the spirit of Merdeka."

The 45 employees represented the thousands of Malaysians working in Shopee behind the scenes to support buyers, sellers, and the wider e-commerce community.

For Shopee, local entrepreneurs have been an important part of that community. Over the past decade, Shopee has supported Malaysian MSMEs at different stages of their journeys, from businesses taking their first steps online to established home-grown brands reaching customers nationwide and beyond.

Nik Emir Nik Din, Head of Public Policy and External Affairs, Shopee Malaysia, said: "Merdeka is a celebration of what Malaysians can build and achieve together, and of the people who will carry our country forward. Seeing an entrepreneur, a creator and our own employees marching together was especially meaningful because, in different ways, they represent the community Shopee has grown alongside in Malaysia.

"Our first National Day Parade was an opportunity to celebrate that community and salute the entrepreneurial spirit we see across the country every day. Behind every home-grown business is someone who took an idea, acted on it and kept building, often through challenges and uncertainty.

"As Malaysia moves forward, we want to continue doing our part by helping more local entrepreneurs strengthen their capabilities, reach more customers and take their ambitions further. Their success contributes not only to the digital economy, but to the communities and livelihoods around them."