KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg gathered at Masjid Jamek here last night with the local community to participate in the Sarawak level Maulidur Rasul celebration in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of Sarawak Independence.
Abang Johari, who donned a yellow Malay shirt with a matching sash, arrived at 6.25 pm accompanied by Deputy Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi.
Upon his arrival, he took time to greet the congregation and then performed the solat sunat (voluntary prayer), followed by the maghrib prayer along with the others.
The ceremony then saw the recitation of the yasin led by the High Imam of Sarawak Sahibul Fadillah Datuk Mustapha Kamal Ahmad Fauzi.
This was followed by a special Maulidur Rasul lecture, ‘Sarawak Makmur Ummah Sejahtera,’ delivered by Sahibus Samahah Datuk Kipli Yassin.
The ceremony continued with the isyak prayer, followed by a marhaban dhikr session led by the Kuching Division Zikir Groups.
Subsequently, the Premier and several state leaders attended a dinner.
Also present at the ceremony were Premier’s wife Puan Sri Datuk Amar Jumaani Tun Tuanku Bujang, Sarawak State Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Legal, MA63, and State Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Sarawak State Mosque Welfare Trust Board (LAKMNS) CEO Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai, Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) Mayor Hilmy Othman, and Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) director Khalidi Ibrahim.
