74 contingents at TYT 65th birthday parade
KOTA KINABALU: Some 2,442 participants from 74 contingents took part in the ceremonial parade held in conjunction with Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin’s official 65th birthday celebration at Padang Merdeka yesterday.
Some 5,000 people from all walks of life gathered at the venue as early as 6 am to witness the arrival of Tun Juhar.
Among those attending the event were the Head of State’s wife, Toh Puan Norlidah RM Jasni, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie Apdal, Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau, Datuk Christina Liew and Datuk Dr Jaujan Sambakong, and other state cabinet ministers.
The event kicked off at 6.55 with the Governor receiving the royal salute from the guard of honour followed by the national anthem “Negaraku” and “Sabah Tanah Airku” and a 17-gun salute.
The parade featured contingents from uniformed departments, such as the security forces including the police, Armed Forces, public and private agencies, non-governmental organisations and students.
After the 17-gun salute, Tun Juhar proceeded to inspect the contingents that took part in the parade.
Tun Juhar and the other official guests were also treated to a silent drill performance by the Royal Malaysian Navy and a Happy Birthday song by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
After the parade, a prize presentation ceremony was held for the winners of each parade category.
This was followed by the investiture ceremony at Istana Negeri and a dinner reception at the State Legislative Assembly Banquet Hall.
To celebrate the Head of State’s birthday month, various activities will be held during October and November, among which are Cycling with TYT Event (October 7 at Likas Bay Public Park), tea ceremony with Special Children and Orphans (October 11 at Promenade Hotel, Tawau), the TYT Charity Golf Club Competition (October 27 at Dalit Bay Golf and Country Club) and many more.
The parade contingents were divided into five categories, namely the public and private higher learning institutions (IPTA /IPTS) category, the private/commercial category, the NGO category, the nonuniformed governmental department category and the official uniformed government department category.
UiTM Sabah’s Komander Kesatria, Yayasan Sabah, St. John’s Ambulance Malaysia,City Hall Landscape Department and the Royal Customs Department emerged as the respective champions in the various categories. The winner for each category received RM1,300 and a trophy.