A six-year-old American Shorthair cat named King Oyen became one of the unexpected stars at the full rehearsal for the 2026 National Day Parade at Dataran Putrajaya today.
Dressed in a shirt, Jalur Gemilang-patterned tanjak and dark sunglasses, the celebrity feline arrived on his own ‘superbike’ as thousands of visitors gathered for the rehearsal.
But King Oyen was not simply there for a joyride. His owner, Mohd Salleh Zakaria, 54, said the cat had come to show moral support for his “youngest sister”, Siti Aleesa Nadia, who is taking part in this year’s parade as a member of the Ministry of National Unity contingent.
Salleh, affectionately known as ‘Daddy Oyen’, said King Oyen was already familiar with National Day events, having participated in the celebrations for the fourth consecutive year.
He said the cat had been trained to stay calm around large crowds and loud noises, including the sounds of fighter jets, helicopters and heavy machinery.
“King Oyen is accustomed to noisy surroundings and the roar of engines. We have trained him to remain calm and not be afraid when he is among crowds.
“At home, he is mischievous like any ordinary cat, but when he is outside, he is very disciplined and follows instructions. We give him simple commands, and if he behaves, then he is allowed to join us,” he told Bernama during the rehearsal.
King Oyen’s ‘Mummy Oyen’, Siti Zalifah Abd Aziz, 53, said her feline companion particularly enjoys watching air displays involving fighter jets and helicopters.
She added that he can respond to simple commands, including shaking hands and giving fist bumps.
According to Siti, King Oyen often becomes a crowd favourite whenever the family brings him to public events, with even foreign tourists stopping to take photographs with him.
“Usually, many people want to take pictures with him. We live in Kuala Lumpur and often bring him to KL Car Free Morning and other events.
“We also take him kayaking, horse riding and cycling,” she said, adding that the family has seven other cats at home.
King Oyen has also built a sizeable following online, with his TikTok account, king_oyen2022, attracting more than 77,000 followers, while his Instagram account has around 24,000 followers.
Among those delighted to meet him was 36-year-old private-sector employee Wan Anis Farieha Wan Ahmad Kaspi, who attended the rehearsal with her three children aged nine, seven and five.
She said her children were thrilled to meet the feline celebrity and managed to take a photograph with him.
“My children and I were very excited to meet King Oyen, who could be considered a VIP. We managed to take a photograph with Oyen,” she said.
King Oyen is set to return to Dataran Putrajaya on Monday, when he will make another appearance during the 2026 National Day Parade.
