Five-month Sabah independence celebration beginning July 1

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KOTA KINABALU: Various exciting activities have been lined up for the five-month Sabah’s 50th Year of Independence Within Malaysia celebration, starting this Monday.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin said at least 80 major activities had been planned by several sub-committees to be held as official events from July until the end of November in several venues across the State.

Yahya, who is the State Independence Celebration Organizing Committee chairman, said the jubilation would kick off with an official launching on July 1.

The launch to be held concurrently with the Sandakan Festival will be officiated by Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin at Padang Bandaran Sandakan.

He said all the programmes that had been lined up would be carried out in stages across the State. The main focus will be at major towns and the state capital.

Following the launch in Sandakan, the celebration will also be held in Kudat, the first administration centre of Sabah.

From there it will move to Tawau, Keningau and other districts.

“This year we will be celebrating the jubilee anniversary of our independence, which is very important because most of those who were born post independence are now grown up and become leaders at various levels.

“Most Sabahans born after Sept 16, 1963, estimated to constitute 70 per cent of state’s population today, were never exposed to the same patriotism like those who had to struggle for independence. They need to know the hardship and sacrifices made by the older generation so they can appreciate what they have now,” he said in a press conference here yesterday.

He said the committee had chosen ‘Sabah Maju Jaya’ as the theme for this year’s celebration, to reflect the importance of independence that Sabah has enjoyed over the past half decade in terms of development and progress.

As usual, a ceremonious parade to be held on August 31 will be among the highlights of the celebration, and this year the event will return to its traditional venue, Likas Sports Complex, instead of Dataran Merdeka.

A ‘Grand Finale’ will be held on Sept 16 at Prince Philip Park in Tanjung Aru together with the launch of Tanjung Aru Eco Development Project, which will be attended by the Prime Minister and his deputy.

“Investors from various parts of the world will also be attending the Sept 16 event. So, I call on all citizens in Sabah to join us there and show our spirit of patriotism at this grand finale,” said Yahya.