KUCHING: Some 10,000 people are expected to throng the premise of the Dewan Suarah Bintulu for the State-level National Day Celebration to be held in Bintulu on Aug 31.
Minister for Rural Electricity and Water Supply Dato Sri Dr. Stephen Rundi Utom, who is also the minister-in-charge of the state-level national day celebrataion disclosed at a press conference yesterday, three main events will be held in conjunction with the celebration this year.
The first is the Majlis Kesyukuran that will be held at Masjid Assyakirin in Bintulu on the 30th, at 6pm, which will be attended by 1,500 people including dignitaries, ministers, heads of departments, guests and other members of the congregation.
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg and his wife Datin Amar Dato Hajah Jumaa’ni binti Tun Datuk Patinggi Tuanku Haji Bujang and the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Hajah Ragad Kurdi Taib will arrive at 6.30pm.
The Majlis doa will start with Azan followed by the Solat Fardhu Maghrib, tahlil, Doa Kesyukuran and Takziah kebangsaan. After that there will be the Azan and Solat Fardu Isyak berjemaah before they adjourn for dinner with the other non-Muslim guests.
On that same evening at around 8pm, a people’s concert (Konsert Rakyat) for the public will be held at the Bintulu Esplanade which will feature 10 famous local artistes such as Bob Yusuf of Akademi Fantasia fame, Nurul Shida, Nurafizah Busman, Mail Imran, Dayangku Fadillah, Ricky Anderson, Band D’Cipta, Fikon Group and others.
Also on the same night before midnight, the National Day Count-down 2017 will be held at Bintulu Esplanade, which will be attended by the public. The Chief Minister will also attend the Count-Down where there will be fireworks.
The next day (Aug 31), Rundi said which will be the climax or the highlight will be the parade at the Perkarangan Dewan Suarah, Bintulu. It will start at 7am with the arrivals of the contingents.
There will be 80 contingents in the rally and parade involves 3,380 people who are drawn from the public and private sectors, NGOs, uniformed and non-uniformed bodies and students. A crowd of about 10,000 people are expected to witness the events.
The guests of honour will be the TYT Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud and Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Hajah Ragad Kurdi Taib. Soon after the arrivals, the State Anthen will be played followed by a welcoming performance. After the Doa, then all the contingents will perform the marchpast.
Then the Chief Minister will be invited to deliver his speech. After that the TYT will be invited to perform symbolic launching ceremony and to cut a birthday cake to be presented by 81 pupils. Then the National Anthen will be played followed by the oath taking ceremony. The scroll will then be presented to the TYT.
The next event will be an interesting item coordinated by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Art and Youth and Sport and the armed forces.
Members of the public, especially those in Bintulu and its surrounding areas are asked to come in full force to witness the events.
