Tun Juhar Mahiruddin arriving at Padang Merdeka.
A cultural performance at Padang Merdeka yesterday.
Tun Juhar, on an army jeep, inspecting the contingents.
KOTA KINABALU: Glamour and pomp pervaded the Padang Merdeka here this morning when more than 50 contingents marched pass the field in conjunction with the 61st birthday celebration of the Head of State Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Juhar Datuk Haji Mahiruddin.
Tun Juhar was on the main stage to witness the event along with wife Toh Puan Datuk Seri Panglima Hajah Norlidah Datuk R.M. Jasni, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman and wife Datin Seri Faridah Tussin, Deputy Chief Ministers Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Datuk Seri Haji Yahya Hussin, Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah and other state cabinet ministers, deputy ministers and invited guests.
About 6,000 participants involving 80 contingents from all state and federal departments, schools of Higher Learning, uniformed groups as well as non-governmental organisations took part in the parade in the morning.
Tun Juhar, mounted on an army jeep, also inspected the contingents assembled in the field.
The choir group from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry presented three songs : Gunung Kinabalu, Di Sini Lahirnya Sebuah Cinta and Selamat Hari Jadi.
A special cultural dance was also performed by the Sabah Cultural Board which attracted a huge crowd.