By Nur Ashikin Louis
KAPIT, June 6: The Sarawak-level official birthday celebration for Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVI Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah commenced with a thanksgiving ceremony at the Jabal An-Nur Mosque in Kapit last night (June 5).
Gracing the event to represent Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib were State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar and his wife Puan Sri Datin Amar Fatimah Mohamad Iskandar.
The thanksgiving ceremony started with Maghrib prayer, followed by a recital of ‘Surah Yassin’, ‘zikir marhaban’ and a special ‘doa’.
The event then continued with Isyak prayer and ended with a dinner joined by non-Muslim dignitaries and guests.
Other dignitaries present were Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department and minister-in-charge for the event Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Deputy Minister (Corporate Affairs and Ukas) Datuk Abdullah Saidol, Deputy Minister (Integrity and Ombudsman) Dato Dr Juanda Jaya, Deputy Minister for Utility Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Deputy Minister for Telecommunication Datuk Liwan Lagang, Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Acting State Secretary Dato Sri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki and Sarawak Islamic Council president Datu Misnu Taha.
The State-level birthday celebration for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will continue today (June 6) with a symbolic cutting of ‘pulut kuning’ (yellow glutinous rice) and a tea banquet at the Kapit Town Square in the morning.
In the evening, the celebration will continue with a symphonic concert and fireworks display at the same venue. — DayakDaily
