King attends Warriors’ Day celebration at Merdeka Square

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WARRIORS’ DAY: Tuanku Abdul Halim (third left) inspects guard-of-honour at the Warriors’ Day celebration at Merdeka Square. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah yesterday attended the Warriors’ Day celebration at the Merdeka Square.

Immediately upon the royal couple’s arrival, the national anthem ‘Negaraku’ was played and Tuanku Abdul Halim later inspected a guard-of-honour while a 21-gun salute was fired.

The guard-of-honour was mounted by 103 other ranks and four officers led by Major Amriza Ashaari from the 1st Battalion Royal Malay Regiment.

Three hundred and sixty personnel from the police force, the army, navy, air force, ex-servicemen’s association and ex-policemen’s association also took part in a parade led by Supt Shahrir Daud from the Royal Malaysia Police.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin were also present.

Others present were the Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The ceremony proceeded with the Last Post being sounded as the Jalur Gemilang was lowered from the flag post, followed by a declamation of the poem ‘Sajak Pahlawan’ by DSP Rosbaini Kassim and DSP Mohammad Mahat.

An added attraction was the staging of a special pantomime entitled “Lahad Datu Berdarah” by the PDRM and armed forces describing the bloody intrusion by Sulu terrorists in Lahad Datu, Sabah in March.

This was followed by the sounding of the ‘Reveille’ or ‘First Call’ and the raising of the Jalur Gemilang accompanied by the cries of ‘Daulat Tuanku’ three times by those taking part in the parade.

The event concluded with the Royal Salute before the royal couple left the ground.

Also present at the ceremony were members of the Cabinet and foreign diplomats. — Bernama