Hajiji, state leaders and the media showing the flyers of the month-long National Day celebration.
KOTA KINABALU: From this year, the Malaysia Day and Hari Merdeka celebrations will only use the current year and not the number of years it is being celebrated.
This, according to state Information Department director Datuk Almain Ajirul, is aimed at standardising the celebration between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia as the formation of Malaysia was on September 16.
August 31 is the date of Peninsular Malaysia’s independence, not Sabah and Sarawak, he said in his speech delivered by State Information Department deputy director Yunus Saprin at a media gathering and press conference in conjunction with the state-level National Day 2015 celebration here yesterday.
Almain disclosed that the theme for this year’s National Day celebration is ‘Malaysia #sehati sejiwa’.
“The theme ‘Malaysia #sehati sejiwa’ reflects the unity between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. #sehati sejiwa also shows the cooperation between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia when disaster befalls on any one of them,” he said.
Meanwhile, chairman of the celebration’s main organising committee, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, called on all in Sabah to hoist and fly the ‘Jalur Gemilang’ during the month-long celebration so that love for the country can be instilled among the people.
The Local Government and Housing Minister hoped that the theme for the state-level celebration to be launched on August 10, will be able to rejuvenate the people’s love and loyalty to the country.
“This is in line with the 1Malaysia concept that prioritizes harmony and unity among the rakyat notwithstanding race or religion. The strong spirit of cooperation, tolerance and understanding is the basis of the country’s peace and harmony,” he stressed.
“It is therefore our responsibility as the citizens of this country to ensure that the unity we have enjoyed so far is continued and strengthened for the sake of Malaysia’s peace, development and prosperity,” he added.
Hajiji also called on media practitioners in the state to assist the government to disseminate information to the public about the National Day celebration as well as the Merdeka Day celebration on August 31.
It cannot be denied that media practitioners have a role to play in the success of the agenda to develop the nation, he said.
“The state government and the Communication and Multimedia Ministry will work hard, through its programs, to strengthen unity in the community and younger generation,” he said.
Hajiji disclosed that the celebration will kick off with the launching of the ‘Kembara Merdeka Jalur Gemilang’ expedition and ‘Kempen Mengibarkan Jalur Gemilang’ on August 10 by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.