Solidarity the theme for Prophet Muhammad's birthday celebration

The national-level celebration was held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park in Serdang near here, launched by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah.

Also present were Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his wife Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis, as well as Cabinet ministers, senior government officers and heads of foreign missions.

The event began at 8.15am with a procession of 125 contingents drawn from various government and private agencies, uniformed bodies, NGOs and schools and tertiary institutions.

The 11,000 people chanted verses in praise of Prophet Muhammad as they marched a distance of 1.8 kilometres from the entrance of the park to Hall A.

In an address to the gathering, Tuanku Abdul Halim hailed the work of Islamic agencies in educating society and expressed sadness over the attitude of certain quarters which ridiculed these efforts.

Former Federal Territory mufti Datuk Wan Zahidi Wan Teh was honoured with the Tokoh Perdana Maulidur Rasul 2015 award.

In MALACCA, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron and his wife Datin Seri Fadilah Abdullah led 7,207 Muslims in a procession from the Hang Tuah Stadium to Dataran Pusat Islam at Masjid Al-Azim, despite rain.

A total of 119 contingents drawn from government and private agencies, NGOs and schools and tertiary institutions took part in the event.

In KOTA BHARU, more than 2,000 youths, with the males attired in white and females in black, joined a procession organised the Kelantan Youth Council with the cooperation of Masjid Muhammadi.

Last night, the Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V, accompanied by the Tengku Mahkota, Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra, attended the state-level celebration at Masjid Ismaili in Pasir Pekan.

Also present were Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob, Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah and state mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad.

In IPOH, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, and the Raja Permaisuri, Tuanku Zara Salim, attended the state-level celebration at the Amanjaya Convention Centre in Meru.

The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa, and the Raja Puan Besar, Raja Nor Mahani Raja Shahar Shah, also attended the event.

Also present at the function, attended by about 5,000 people, were Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and his wife Datin Seri Saripah Zulkifli as well as state executive councillors.

In SARAWAK, acting Yang Dipertua Negeri Tan Sri Bujang Mohd Nor led the state-level celebration joined by 6,694 people of various communities and religions at Dataran Sibu.

A procession was also held, which was joined by three contingents of non-Muslims, one of them from the Sarawak United People's Party.

The celebration began last night with prayers and reciting of religious verses at Masjid An-Nur in Sibu.

Religious lectures, seminars, competitions, gotong-royong clean-up and blood donation were also carried out in many places in the state.

In SIPITANG, Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, state cabinet members and heads of department participated in the state-level procession.

The three-kilometre march from the Sipitang Hospital field to GATA Square saw the participation of 62 contingents comprising 10,000 Muslims who represented government departments and agencies as well as private entities.

At the event, Juhar also presented the Maulidur Rasul award to social activist Awang Suffian Awang Piut in the men's category and government pensioner Datuk Halimah Nawab Khan in the women's category.

Each them received RM7,500 and a certificate of appreciation from the state government.

The late Datuk Masood Salleh, who was a former civil servant, was bestowed a special award.

In KUALA TERENGGANU, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin and Sultanah Nur Zahirah attended the state-level celebration at the state stadium.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman and his wife, Toh Puan Seri Halina Zakaria, were also present.

The planned procession could not be held due to heavy rain in the morning.

However, the celebration went on with a variety of programmes, including a speech by Ustaz Syed Norhisham Tuan Padang.

In SHAH ALAM, over 2,000 people participated in a procession in conjunction with the Selangor state-level celebration, from the Section 13 Mini Stadium to the Malawati Stadium.

The 1.8-kilometre march saw the participation of 92 contingents from various government and private agencies as well as schools.

At the ceremony at the Malawati Stadium, five special awards were presented by the Tengku Panglima Diraja Selangor, Tengku Sulaiman Shah.

Selangor deputy mufti Datuk Abdul Majid Omar received the Umar Abdul Aziz Special Award which came with RM15,000, a certificate, a trophy and a set of clothing.

Former Selangor police chief Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan received the Khalid al-Walid Special Award; freelance motivational speaker Dr Mohd Farid Ravi Abdullah the Imam Al-Ghazali Special Award and Prof Dr Che Muhaya Mohamad the Saidatina Khadijah Special Award.

Each of them received RM10,000, a certificate, a trophy and a set of clothing.

The Saidina Ali Special Award was given to SM Agama Maahad Hamidiah (Kajang) student Jihad Muhamad Fuad who received RM5,000.

In JOHOR BAHRU, 5,000 Muslims celebrated Prophet Muhammad's birthday in Pasir Gudang.

Pasir Gudang Municipal Council president Md Za'nal Misran said the celebration this time was different because it was held with the cooperation of local residents and various agencies and government departments.

The programme saw the participation of 53 contingents from various agencies and departments in a procession.

The 1.9-kilometre march, which began at 7.45am with about 2,500 participants, ended at Masjid An Nur in Pasir Gudang.