KUCHING, Sept 30: Yang Di-pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud will be celebrating his 83rd birthday at his birth place Miri from October 11-13.
He will be joined by his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and wife Datuk Amar Jumaa’ni Tun Tuanku Bujang.
The three-day celebration will start with a thanksgiving prayer at the Masjid Darul Ehsan, Piasau Jaya, Miri at 6.30pm.
Cabinet ministers and local leaders will be expected to attend the religious event along with more than 1,500 participants.  The thanksgiving prayer meet will end with a dinner at the same venue with invited non-Muslim dignitaries and guests.
On October 12, starting from 8am, members of the public are invited to watch the grand parade as one of the highlights of the celebrations at Stadium Miri.
A total of 83 contingents comprising more than 4,000 participants will be taking part in the parade to signify the Governor’s age.
There will also be a special fly-past comprising the Royal Air Force, Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), Hornbill Skyways and police helicopters bearing the national and state flags.
After that, all the contingents will perform a march past to be followed by the Chief Minister’s address before the Head of State is invited to officiate the symbolic launch and to cut a special birthday cake.
Other interesting activities at the stadium would be performances of human graphics by 800 performers, presentation of songs and other items coordinated by the Sarawak Arts Council (MSS).
After the parade, Taib will adjourn to the Mega Hotel to grace the investiture ceremony where he will present various state awards and medals to recipients.
The same evening, Taib, Abang Johari and their spouses will attend a State Dinner at the Pullman Hotel. They will be joined by the cabinet ministers and other state dignitaries. The dinner will see special performances by the Okestra Tradisional Malaysia from Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur and other top singers.
Meanwhile, starting at 8pm in the same evening, a special Konsert Rakyat will be held at the seaside venue of the Coco Cabana.
Members of the public are invited to watch this live concert which promises an evening of entertainment featuring popular singers. They are Ricky Andrewson, Melissa Francis, Bibiyanti, Siti Hajar, Raquel, Firdaus Materang and Norafizah Busman.
On the morning of October 13, Taib will attend a High Tea reception at Gymkhana Club Miri where he will be presenting welfare aids and cash to 100 underprivileged people.
After that, he will launch the Pameran Dirgahayu Exhibition at Pustaka Miri and be given a tour of the exhibition.
Taib was born on May 21, 1936 in Miri. He was sworn in as the seventh governor of Sarawak on March 1, 2014. — DayakDaily
