KUCHING: Sarawak is set to host the 2019 Malaysia Day celebrations in Kuching on Sept 16.
Scheduled to be held at Padang Merdeka from 5.30pm, the celebrations will be a continuation of the National Month and the Fly the Jalur Gemilang campaigns held here from Aug 2 to 4.
According to a statement from the Malaysia Day organising committee, the theme of this year’s celebration would be ‘Sayangi Malaysiaku: Malaysia Bersih (Love Our Malaysia: A Clean Malaysia)’.
The theme was chosen because it symbolises the unity and spirit of love for the country’s well-being and prosperity, while fostering and instilling a sense of integrity among all Malaysians.
Among the exciting events scheduled on the day are the ‘Shadow Play’ performance, decorated car parades as well as other performances by leading artistes.
Members of the public are invited to join in the celebrations.
The information below is from a press conference by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan with Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister Eddin Syazlee Shith and other dignitaries following a Malaysia Day celebration committee meeting yesterday at Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Petra Jaya.
Date: September 16, 2019
Venue: Padang Merdeka, Kuching.
Guests of honour: Head of State Tun Pehin Seri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib.
VVIP invitees: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Dr Abang Johari Tun Openg and wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang and other federal and state
ministers.
Celebration theme: ‘Love Malaysia: Clean Malaysia’
This theme emphasises the importance of unity and spirit of love for the nation for the sake of the people’s well-being and prosperity. It is also hoped that the theme can foster Malaysian integrity and identity.
Programme:
1. Starts as early as 5.30pm
2. Arrival of Head of State: 7pm. He will be greeted by 100 multi-racial children dressed in their respective traditional costumes to the accompaniment of patriotic songs ‘Malaysia Bersih’ and ‘Pertiwiku Tercinta’.
3. Speeches of prime minister and chief minister.
4. Stage featuring songs and dances by famous local and national artistes.
5. Showing of video on formation of Malaysia.
6. Raising of Jalur Gemilang.
7. Opening ceremony: Head of State and other dignitaries hit the drums simultaneously accompanied by display of laser lights.
8. Beating of 300 drums
9. Performance by 100 silat exponents
10. Shadow Play themed ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall’ touching on friendship, cohesiveness, peace, conflict and nation building.
11. Decorated car parade displaying cars from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s and the future.
Certain roads leading to and around the venue will be closed from 4pm on Sept 16. This will be enforced by the police.
More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the celebration which is a continuation of the launch of the National Month and ‘Kibar Jalur Gemilang’ campaign held from August 2 to 4 at Dataran Pahlawan, Malacca and also the 2019 National Day celebration held at Putrajaya Square on August 31.
