Parade marks beginning of assembly

THE opening of the Umno general assembly began with a parade and hoisting of the Umno flag at Plaza Merdeka in Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, who is also Umno president, and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, were received on arrival by Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Puteri chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.

Attired in a blue “baju Melayu”, Najib was escorted by Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to a stage to receive a salute from parade commander Mohamad Akmal Mohd Tajul Ariffin and 150 members of the three Umno wings.

Najib then hoisted the Umno flag “Sang Saka Bangsa” while those present sang the party song “Bersatu, Bersetia, Berkhidmat”.

Earlier, Khairy was given the honour to head the parade in appreciation of him being conferred the rank of brigadiergeneral in the Territorial Army on Jan 14, 2015.

At the ceremony, the theme song of this year’s assembly “Melayu Bersatu” was also sung by a choir from Universiti Teknologi Mara Shah Alam.

A total of 2,762 delegates from 191 divisions are attending the three-day general assembly. – Bernama