Show of patriotic zeal as Malaysians celebrate 'One Heart, One Soul'

Besides the colourful celebration at the Dataran Merdeka, the other states had also drawn up various programs to mark the event this time, which drew the attention of not only the local population but also the foreigners.

In PERAK, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah and Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim joined the general public to celebrate the National Day at the state level in front of the Municipal Hall, Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, Ipoh.

A total of 116 contingents involving 6,960 participants from government departments and agencies, schools, institutions of higher learning, uniformed units and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) took part in the procession and parade.

In KUALA TERENGGANU, Yang Dipertuan Muda Terengganu Tengku Muhammad Ismail Sultan Mizan witnessed the celebration at the Dataran Batu Burok.

On arrival together with his sister, Tengku Nadhirah Zahrah, they were greeted by Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman as well as members of the State Executive Council.

The procession participated by 5,236 people from 159 contingents from the various agencies and school students began from the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium to Dataran Batu Burok, a distance of three kilometers.

Members of the public also took the rare opportunity to witness the gaiety of the celebration with more than 10,000 attending the event in stages beginning at 7am.

In JOHOR, thousands of local and foreign nationals had gone to Tangkak town as early as 6am to witness the procession from 111 contingents involving 3,663 participants.

The celebration commenced shortly after the arrival of Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin who started the event by releasing 59 sparrows symbolising the 59 years that Malaysia had been freed from the colonialists, followed by the procession of the contingents carrying the 'Jalur Gemilang', and other contingents including the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces.

In SABAH, the parade and procession were held on a moderate scale attended by about 15,000 people including participants of the contingents who had begun to fill up the Dataran Bandaraya, Kota Kinabalu, as early as 6am.

A total of 175 contingents involving government agencies, the private sector, NGOs, institutions of higher learning, school students, Sabah ethnic associations as well as 25 vehicles took part in the procession.

Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and wife, Toh Puan Norlidah R.M Jasni; Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman as well as state Cabinet members, among others, were entertained by a special performance from the Sabah Cultural Board with dance performances as well as poetry reading carrying the theme of a struggle.

In MELAKA, 9,881 participants from 227 contingents made up of government agencies, institutions of higher learning, school students, associations and members of the Malaysian Armed Forces joined the parade and procession at Bandar Hilir.

Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, his wife Toh Puan Zurina Kassim, and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron joined about 3,000 people including foreign tourists to witness the procession.

In NEGERI SEMBILAN, the procession was enlivened with the presence of Negeri Sembilan Yang Dipertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz Almarhum Tuanku Munawir and Negeri Sembilan Tunku Ampuan Besar, Tuanku Aishah Rohani Almarhum Tengku Besar Mahmud at the Seremban Municipal Council building.

Also present to witness the procession involving 12,901 participants were Undang Yang Empat and Tampin Tunku Besar, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, State Secretary Datuk Mat Ali Hassan, Speaker Datuk Dr Awaludin Said, exco members and department heads. In SARAWAK, the celebration held at the Sri Aman Sport Complex saw the participation of 79 contingents from government departments and NGOs in the parade before Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Also present were Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem and the three deputy chief ministers, namely Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg, Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing and Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

In KELANTAN, the National Day 2016 was celebrated on a moderate scale involving 1,749 participants representing 59 contingents from state and federal departments and attended by 500 people at the Ketereh District Council Mini Stadium, Kota Bharu.

The ceremony, which was officiated by Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob started at 8.30 am and ended at about an hour later. Also present was Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.

The ceremony was also enlivened by the parade of 59 Jalur Gemilang and 59 Kelantan state flags as a symbol of 59 years of independence this year, by the security agencies, state and federal government departments.

In PERLIS, the celebration was attended by Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail and Raja Perempuan of Perlis, Tuanku Tengku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid accompanied by Raja Muda, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail and Raja Puan Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man and wife Datin Seri Nor Aswana Omar.

The celebration was held at the Dataran Merdeka, Kangar involving a parade from 89 contingents representing government departments and agencies, private sector and NGOs and attended by about 10,000 people.

In PENANG, about 6,000 participants representing 91 contingents from government and private agencies took part in the procession at Padang Kota Lama, which began with the Jalur Gemilang parade by the 509 Territorial Army Regiment military contingent and Royal Third Armour Army brass band.

Penang Yang di-Pertua, Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas and wife Toh Puan Majimor Shariff also attended the celebration with over 7,000 people of various races.

Also present were Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang, State Secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus, state DAP leadership lineup and state assemblymen.

In PAHANG, the celebration started with the arrival of Pahang Tengku Mahkota Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob as well as state leaders at the Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK) 4 padang in Kuantan.