KUALA LUMPUR: Merdeka Day countdowns usually are celebrated with fireworks as large crowds gather awaiting for the stroke of midnight.

This year, however, states that were holding Merdeka Day countdowns organised online programmes with an emphasis on prayers following the COVID-19 pandemic that is still affecting the country.

In TERENGGANU, the state Merdeka Day countdown began at 7.30 pm with Maghrib prayers and Yasin recital online.

This was followed by a live forum about independence broadcast on the Terengganu government's official Facebook account featuring celebrities Zizan Razak and Ustaz Azhar Idrus as panellists.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, in a statement today said that citizens should continue their fight against the threat of COVID-19 and free the country from its grasp.

In JOHOR, the state government held a religious ceremony at the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, including a Yasin recital and tahlil prayers, led by Grand Imam Makhadzir Abdan Al-Hafiz.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Ir Hasni Mohammad, state executive councillors and several other senior state government officials attended the ceremony.

Johor police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay and state health director Datuk Dr Aman Rabu were also present.

Meanwhile, in KEDAH, the state-level online prayers and Yasin recital were led by the Grand Imam of Masjid Zahir Datuk Syeikh Roslan Abdul Halim.

-- BERNAMA