Sibu to host TYT state-level birthday do
SIBU: Sibu Division will play host to this year’s state-level birthday celebration of Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, from Oct 12 till 14.
Minister of International Trade and E- Commerce and Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said the grand celebration to mark the 82nd birthday of the Head of State, comprises of six segments, which will kick- start with a thanksgiving prayer on Oct 12 at An-Nur Mosque here.
“Then, on the morning of Oct 13, there will be a grand parade by 82 contingents signifying the Governor’s age and comprising more than 4,000 people at Dataran Sibu. The public are invited to watch the parade being one of the highlights of the celebration, starting from 8am.
“Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg will address the parade,” he told a press conference here yesterday evening.
Wong, who is Minister-inCharge of the celebration is assisted by four assistant ministers, namely Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department ( Native Laws and Customs) Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Assistant Minister for Town Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh, Assistant Minister for Education, Science and Technological Research and Assistant Minister for Housing and Public Health Dr Annuar Rapaee as well as Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Corporate Affairs) Abdullah Saidol.
Adding on, Wong revealed that other interesting activities at the dataran will be performances by 800 students, presentation of patriotic songs and other interesting items to be coordinated by the Sarawak Arts Council under state Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youths and Sport.
He said the other major components will the investiture ceremony by the Head of State, where he will present various state awards and medals to the recipients at RH Hotel.
In the evening, the Head of State and Abang Johari as well as their spouses will be joined by cabinet ministers and other state dignitaries at a State banquet in Kingwood Hotel.
Meanwhile, starting 8am in the same evening at Dataran Sibu, there will be a ‘ Konsert Dirgahayu’, featuring popular Malaysian artistes and several winners of the Akademi Fantasia reality television show such as Hafiz Suib and Zizi Kirana (AF 7).
In the morning of Oct 14, the Head of State will attend a high tea reception at Sibu Islamic Complex, where he will present gifts and cash to 150 underprivileged persons and launch the ‘Dirgahayu’ exhibition at the complex’s gallery.
The exhibition organised by the State Library in cooperation with the Information Department will among other things, showcase all the governors of Sarawak, photos on developments by Pehin Sri Taib and his contributions towards unity and multi-racial society in Sarawak.
Meanwhile, state protocol and event management director in the Chief Minister’s Department Azlan Ali Badri said among the highlights of the parade will be a 17- gun salute and a special fly-past to be performed by three Nuri helicopters flying the federal and state flags.
Also present at the press conference were Sibu Resident Charles Siaw and Sibu District police chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit.