SHE arrived at the KL International Airport in the wee hours of a Saturday for a very important occasion, all the way from Sydney, Australia.

Dr Lam Shu Jie took the eight-hour flight mainly to attend the Chinese Community Patriotic Assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

She returned to Sydney the very next day.

Dr Lam was not alone in travelling long distance for the Malaysia Day event that was organised by MCA at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur.

She was among some 16,000 people who attended the assembly.

Dr Lam (left), one of the recipients of the Oustanding Chinese Award, posing for a photo with Dr Wee at the assembly.

Dr Lam, 26, whose hometown is Batu Pahat, Johor, was one of the recipients of the Outstanding Malaysian Chinese Award presented at the event.

She made world headlines last year when she and her team of researchers discovered a possible solution to the antibiotic-resistant bacteria commonly known as “superbugs” when she did her PhD in Chemical Engineering.

Two others who received the award were national shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei and diver Cheong Jun Hoong.

By 10am, the two halls in PWTC were packed to the brim, with the crowd waiting for the arrival of the guest of honour, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Thousands of participants waving their flags while singing patriotic songs during the Chinese Community Patriotic Assembly at Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

The mood was upbeat with participants waving the Jalur Gemilang as patriotic songs in Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia were played.

In between, there were entertainment programmes, including Chinese evergreens such as the late Teresa Teng’s song Wo Zhi Zaihu Ni (I Only Care About You) and Shanghai Beach by Frances Yip to keep the crowd entertained.

Najib, accompanied by MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong arrived at about 11am.

The crowd was all ears for Najib and Liow on stage, with intermittent applause and cheers to show endorsement for them.

The guests also took a walk down memory lane, watching a video and sketches depicting the country from before gaining independence until today.