Kota Kinabalu gears up for Malaysia Day celebration

KOTA KINABALU: With Merdeka celebrations over, Kota Kinabalu is now shifting gears and making preparations to host the national-level Malaysia Day on Sept 16.

More than 10,000 participants are expected to join the celebration at the Likas Sports Complex here, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak scheduled to launch the event.

Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg is expected to attend the event.

Full details of the celebration, themed “Negaraku Sehati Sejiwa” (One Country, One Heart, One Soul), have not been released, but organisers promised a range of special performances.

Besides the 1,500 participants set to showcase their talents during the celebration, thousands of civil servants, non-governmental organisation members and volunteers will be part of the event.

The main committee co-chairmen of this year’s Malaysia Day celebration are leaders from Sabah — Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak and state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

“We do not want people to say that this (year’s Malaysia Day celebration) is just a repeat of (previous) programmes.

“Malaysia Day is aimed at renewing our spirit of unity, and reminding us of what matters (most to us) as Malaysians,” Masidi said.

More information on the celebration would be unveiled after the main committee meets one more time before a press conference next Friday, he added.

The national-level event was hosted by Sarawak in Bintulu last year.