Muslims enliven Maulidur Rasul celebrations across Malaysia

Muslims today enlivened Maulidur Rasul celebrations with a parade and chanted the 'selawat' (praises to Prophet Muhammad) in remembrance of the sacrifices of Prophet Muhammad in spreading Islam.

The national celebrations themed 'Perpaduan Nadi Transformasi Negara' (Unity, the Pulse of National Transformation), held at the Putra Mosque in Putrajaya, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

It began with a parade involving 12,325 participants from 149 contingents, of which 68 were government departments, 33 statutory bodies, 13 private sector, 10 uniform bodies, four schools, six universities and six non-governmental organisations.

The contingents walked 1.8 kilometres from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry building to the Putra Mosque through Persiaran Perdana.

Muhyiddin, in his speech, emphasised on the importance of unity among Muslims and resisting extremist activities to ensure the country's security and wellbeing.

Also present at the event was Muhyiddin's wife, Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, cabinet ministers and foreign delegates.

In JOHOR BAHARU, Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim led a one-kilometre parade from the Istana Besar to the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque for the state-level Maulidur Rasul celebrations.

The 3,000 participants involving 84 contingents were also accompanied by the Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and State Secretary Datuk Ismail Karim.

The ceremony was also filled with recitation of the al-Quran, religious ceramah by Johor Baharu Kadi Ahmad Hanif Naim and a speech from State Islamic Religious Committee chairman Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim.

In Malacca, cloudy skies did not stop a parade involving 7,778 participants from 124 contingents who chanted praises to Prophet Muhammad.

A parade from the Hang Tuah Stadium to the Al-Azim Mosque was led by the Malacca Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob and accompanied by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron.

Idris, when met by reporters, urged Muslims to learn from the Prophet's success in uniting Muslims of varied backgrounds to ensure harmony in the country is maintained.

In SEREMBAN, some 10,000 Muslims took part in the state-level Maulidur Rasul parade around Seremban town.

In his speech, Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir expressed his concern on the involvement of Malaysians in militant groups such as Islamic State (IS), which misused the term 'jihad' for violence, including on Muslims.

He asked that the people understand the value and teachings of Islam without easily being influenced by negative elements which misuse jihad as a shortcut to heaven.

In KUCHING, about 10,000 Muslims participated in Maulidur Rasul celebrations led by Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar and Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem at the Jamek Mosque, Petra Jaya.

In his speech, Adenan said Prophet Muhammad, through his noble character, taught Muslims the way to manage a plural society in Madinah in a fair, peaceful and harmonious way.

In the context of Sarawak, he said the state's plural society made up of Malays, Iban, Orang Ulu, Chinese, Bidayuh, Melanau, Indian and more, are interdependent and should be able to share power fairly and equally.

In KUALA TERENGGANU, Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman led 77 contingents in a 2.4km parade which began at 7.30am from Dataran Shahbandar to the State Stadium in drizzling rain.

Tengku Seri Temenggong Raja Tengku Baharuddin Sultan Mahmud, who represented the Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, officiated the celebration participated by 5,000 people.

Meanwhile, celebrations in Pahang have been postponed due to floods, said State Islamic Religion and Special Tasks Committee chairman Datuk Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad.

In SANDAKAN, Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman led the parade for state-level Maulidur Rasul celebrations today.

The procession from the Sandakan District Mosque to the Bandaran Field involved 94 contingents from various government agencies, private sector and non-governmental organisations.

Sabah 'Tokoh Maulidur Rasul' Awards were given to Assoc Prof Dr Suwaid Tapah, 55, from UiTM Sabah's Academy of Islamic Studies and former teacher Salmah Abdullah, 58.

In KEPALA BATAS, Pennag Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon led the state-level Maulidur Rasul procession from Vision Park to Masjid Abdullah Fahim.

More than 2,000 people participated in the procession.