KUCHING: Sarawak is set to celebrate the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday for the year 1444H/2023 on September 27 and 28 with a grand procession planned for the second day.
Sarawak Islamic Council (MIS) president, Datuk Misnu Taha, said that a zikir (remembrance) session and the recitation of Yasin will be held on Wednesday night at Masjid Jamek after the Maghrib prayer.
“We expect the presence of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, and it is anticipated that the event on that day will be graced by the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi.
“The programme on that evening will also feature the Mufti of Sarawak, Sahibus Samahah Datuk Kipli Yassin, delivering a special lecture in conjunction with the celebration,” he said during a press conference for the Final Meeting of the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad Birthday for the year 1444H/2023 in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary of Sarawak’s Independence at the Majma shopping centre here today.
On the second day, a grand procession will see participation from 237 contingents, totalling 10,010 members, across eight categories. These include government departments, uniformed bodies, educational institutions, and more. The procession, commencing at Padang Merdeka, will begin at 6.30 am.
“The participants will be divided into two assembly groups that will march to the village area with a distance of about 4 kilometres, and the journey will cover Kuching city (3.7 km),”he said.
Meanwhile, attractive prizes in the form of cash and certificates await the contingents participating in the procession.
The top contingent will earn RM7,000, while the second and third-placed contingents will get RM5,000 and RM3,000 respectively. Both cash prizes and certificates will be presented.
Prizes also extend to the fourth (RM1,000) and fifth (RM500) positions. Every contingent will be recognised with a participation certificate. Additional awards, like the hadrah consolation (RM500), special consolation (RM500), and largest contingent (RM1,000), will be given out.
The public is kindly reminded to note any road closures during these celebrations for smooth traffic flow.
