They Deliver Every Day, But This Merdeka, They Took the Parade

For most Malaysians, food delivery partners are familiar faces seen on the road – navigating busy streets, picking up orders and making sure meals arrive at our doorsteps.

But this Merdeka, 62 foodpanda delivery partners found themselves taking on a very different journey.

Instead of spending 31 August delivering food across Malaysian cities, they marched alongside thousands of Malaysians at the National Day Parade in Putrajaya, proudly representing the delivery partner community as part of the country’s 69th Merdeka celebration.

For these 62 individuals, the occasion was more than just a parade. It was a moment of recognition, pride and community, bringing together people from different backgrounds and walks of life to celebrate the country they call home.

More Than Just a Delivery Uniform

Behind every food delivery is a person with a story, and the experiences of foodpanda’s delivery partners show just how diverse Malaysia’s delivery community really is.

Among those selected were Awan and Duwey, who have both been with foodpanda for five years. The couple first met while working in Balakong, when Awan was a single mother raising two children. Today, they are married and continue working as delivery partners while building their lives together.

For Awan, taking part in the National Day Parade was a particularly meaningful experience.

She sees the opportunity as a chance to challenge perceptions surrounding delivery work and demonstrate the important role delivery partners play in Malaysian society.

Sometimes, delivery partners may simply be seen as the person arriving at the gate with an order. But behind the helmet and uniform are Malaysians working hard to support themselves and their families.

Being selected to participate in the parade gave Awan an opportunity to proudly represent this community.

A Little Respect Goes a Long Way

For Duwey, the Merdeka celebration also highlighted the importance of mutual respect between delivery partners, customers and merchants.

Life on the road is not always easy. Delivery partners work through traffic, hot weather and rain while trying to ensure orders reach customers safely and on time.

Duwey hopes Malaysians will show greater understanding towards delivery partners, especially when road and weather conditions become challenging.

At the same time, he believes delivery partners also have a responsibility to treat customers and merchants with respect.

Ultimately, everyone shares the same roads and communities.

That simple message of empathy fits perfectly with the spirit of Merdeka – recognising that everyone has a role to play in making Malaysia a better place.

Stories of Kindness on the Road

Casey Chuan, who has been a foodpanda delivery partner since 2018, also sees community as an important part of her journey.

Over the years, the relationships and camaraderie she has developed with fellow delivery partners have helped keep her motivated.

Her work has also introduced her to memorable moments of kindness from customers.

One experience that stayed with her was delivering just two burgers to a customer in a rural area. At a time when Casey needed additional income, the customer gave her a RM10 tip.

It may seem like a small gesture, but moments like this can make a meaningful difference to someone working on the road.

For Casey, marching alongside a multiracial group of fellow Malaysians made the Merdeka celebration even more special.

From Earning a Living to Achieving a Dream

For Gopinath Ramakasinan, his journey with foodpanda has gone beyond earning an income.

As a single father, he initially joined the platform because he wanted flexible working hours and another source of income.

However, his journey eventually opened another important door – education.

Through foodpanda’s sponsorship opportunity, Gopinath was able to pursue university studies and ultimately graduate.

For him, the achievement represents one of the most important milestones of his life.

His story is a reminder that flexible work can sometimes become a stepping stone towards bigger personal goals.

One Parade, 62 Different Stories

Although all 62 delivery partners arrived at the parade with different experiences, backgrounds and motivations, they stood together on the same day to celebrate Malaysia.

Their participation reflects the spirit behind foodpanda Malaysia’s #SatuRasaBersama Merdeka campaign, which celebrates Malaysian food and the connections created through it.

According to Kenneth Soh, Managing Director of foodpanda Malaysia, delivery partners form an important part of the company’s daily operations and help make reliable deliveries possible for customers.

Their contributions, however, extend beyond simply completing deliveries. They are also part of the wider Malaysian community.

Celebrating the People Behind Every Delivery

To recognise their dedication and participation in the National Day celebration, each of the participating delivery partners received an exclusive pair of foodpanda x Voltra Running Shoes.

It was a small but meaningful gesture of appreciation for the people who spend countless hours on Malaysia’s roads.

This Merdeka, the spotlight was therefore not only on the parade, flags and celebrations.

It was also on the people who keep moving every day.

They deliver our food, navigate our roads and serve communities across the country.

And on 31 August 2026, they put down their delivery bags for a moment, stepped into the parade and proudly celebrated Merdeka – together with the nation they help serve every single day.

For more information, visit www.foodpanda.com.

Keywords:

• foodpanda Malaysia,
• foodpanda delivery partners,
• Merdeka 2026,
• National Day Parade Malaysia,
• Hari Merdeka 2026,
• food delivery riders Malaysia,
• foodpanda Merdeka campaign,
• SatuRasaBersama,
• Putrajaya National Day Parade,
• Malaysian delivery riders,
• foodpanda community