Anak Bangsa Malaysia checking out the latest teeshirt design at the SABM Launch Wednesday evening.

Really, it wasn't quite the perfect recipe for an outdoor event. It rained like nobody's business, as they say in local lingo; traffic was crawling in and around KL; and to top it off, it was held on a work day in the midst of Bulan Ramadhan.

But it was important enough. So thought the 250 or so citizens, who crammed themselves tightly within the canopy confines.

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia was officially launched on Sept 16, 2009, coinciding with Hari Malaysia when Sabah, Sarawak and now-independent Singapore joined Malaya to form a new nation.

The Anak Bangsa Malaysia Charter was announced. You can read it here or here. The document shall serve as the compass for this initiative. Programmes to actualise this message were outlined and a brief QnA session held.

And just as the call of the Maghrib prayers filled the Damansara air, we broke fast. Chapatis were willingly halved between friends. And even more new friendships forged.

Queens of SABM II: There was still enough humour for a papparazzi pose two hours before the event started. The clouds were barely holding then. Within a half hour, the neighborhood would be drenched from the downpour.

Not surprising that there wasn't a rainbow out in the skies that evening. No, it came down and dwelled in Rumah Anak Bangsa Malaysia for a solid three hours. Above, a section of the crowd just before the event kicked off.

And stars came by too. First-ever Malaysian Idol, Jaclyn Victor, was overheard gushing: "Wow, look Malik Imtiaz is here! Oh, there's Tricia Yeoh! And... and...! All these stars in civil society."

Umm, Jac go look in the mirror, will you :)

The Anak Bangsa Malaysia song was given the jiwang treatment by Black, Meor and Mila. Composed by Black, it was given a folk twist by a booming Anak Bangsa Malaysia on harmonica.

Yes, bonding, food and song coupled with a Charter and a plan. Yet in the end, it is really about a simple pledge set to waft over this monsoon land. 

Now the action must begin. For only then can we say, people, this fits us to a tee.

All pictures (except 2nd and 3rd) / Nandakumar Haridas

Pics 2 and 3 / straits-mongrel