By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Sept 20: The 78th birthday celebration of Sarawak’s Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, will take place from Oct 10 to 13 in Kuching, with a series of significant events lined up.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah announced that the four-day celebration will feature various activities, including Islamic and interfaith thanksgiving ceremonies, a special sermon, a ceremonial parade and assembly, the conferral of state honors, a state banquet, and a tea reception.
“Sarawak Art Council (MSS) has prepared various performances such as 50 students performing the song ‘Dirgahayu’ by Faizal Tahir and Dayang Nurfaizah, a medley performance by Dayang Nurfaizah and Bob Yusof, featuring songs from the 1960s.
“Among others, a cultural performance called ‘Rampaian Etnik Kreatif’, involving 100 participants representing six ethnic groups from Sarawak, will also be showcased,” he told a press conference held at Waterfront Hotel here today.
He added that Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and wife Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang are expected to grace the event.
A thanksgiving ceremony will be held at Masjid Jamek at 6pm on Oct 10, while on Oct 11, a special sermon will be held during Friday prayers at all mosques throughout Sarawak.
On the same day, an interfaith thanksgiving ceremony will also be held at Riverside Majestic at 8am.
On Oct 12, a ceremonial parade and assembly will be held at Padang Merdeka in Kuching, follow by a conferral of state honors at 11.30am at Astana Negeri Sarawak, and a State banquet in the evening at 8pm, in Dewan Santapan in Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) building.
The tea reception ceremony will be held on Oct 13 at 10am in Sarawak Chamber Riverside Majestic.
The celebration will be broadcast live on TVS, Astro channel 122, MyTV, and can be streamed on Sarawak Public Communications Unit’s (Ukas) Facebook page and YouTube channel. — DayakDaily
