KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 – The 56th Merdeka Day procession on Aug 31 promises to be different from previous years’ in line with its theme ‘Malaysiaku Berdaulat: Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku’, said Communications and Multimedia Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Kamaruddin Siaraf on Tuesday.
“The difference is that we will highlight military equipment to show the people and the world that we are ready to defend our nation in any eventuality.
“In the past, we focused on elements of culture and understanding, this year we will stress on patroitism…that Malaysia is a sovereign country which we are prepared to defend to the last drop of our blood,” he said.
Kamaruddin who is also the 56th National Day and 50th Malaysia Day Celebrations Committee chairman was speaking in the ‘Malaysia Hari Ini’ programme on TV3 this morning.
He said the national day celebration would have a parade put up by 16,000 members of the security forces apart from reciting the Rukunegara by 56 generation Y youngsters as well as human formations at Dataran Merdeka.
On the eve of Merdeka, the Putrajaya International Fireworks competition will be held at the Putrajaya Maritime Centre.
“That night, there will also be a concert featuring leading local artistes while the Prime Minister will join the countdown to Merdeka Day,” he said.
Other activities included raising the national flag campaign which was launched by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Sungai Petani on Aug 16 as well as a ‘Unity and Harmony’ concert between Malaysia and Indonesia at Dataran Merdeka two nights ago.
He said there would be many more programmes held at state-level to foster patroitism such as merdeka speech competition, house and business premises decorations as well as a video clip contest on how Malaysians celebrate independence day.
“These celebrations are to remind the people that independence did not come on its own but through our struggles and the people should be vigilant in protecting the country’s independence,” he said.
For Malaysia Day celebration, Kamaruddin said the country’s golden jubilee would be celebrated in the morning in Kuching and at night in Kota Kinabalu on Sept 16.
“Unlike previous years when the celebrations were either held in Kuching or Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia Day will be held at the two places on the same day,” he said.
The celebration in Kuching will be attended by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong while the Prime Minister will be at the Kota Kinabalu celebration.
“In Kuching, there will be a regatta on Sungai Sarawak on Sept 15 night with a procession of decorated boats,” he said.
– BERNAMA
