KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has been chosen for the first time to host the national level launching of the National Month and hoisting of the ‘Jalur Gemilang’ on Aug 6 in Tawau, about 555 kilometres from here.
State National Day Celebration main committee chairman Datuk Hajiji Noor said the Sabah-level national month and hoisting of the Jalur Gemilang would be launched simultaneously.
“The ceremony will be held at Dataran Majlis Perbandaran in Tawau,” he said at the ceremony to present Jalur Gemilang and state flags to permanent secretaries, department heads and non-governmental organisations here, yesterday.
He said the flags would be raised throughout August in the countdown to National Day on Aug 31, to re-ignite the spirit of patriotism among the people in the state.
The minister said various programmes had been drawn up to enliven the state-level National Day celebration including the ‘Kembara Merdeka’, National Day run, Merdeka Short Video contest and Merdeka selfie competition for students.
He said last year’s National Day theme #sehatisejiwa (One Heart, One Soul) had been retained for this year’s celebration as it reflected integration, understanding and the spirit of togetherness among Malaysians.
Meanwhile, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said preparations to celebrate the 60th Merdeka Day are going on full swing, with the launch scheduled to be held in Tawau, Sabah, on Aug 6.
The highlight of the celebration would be on Aug 31 at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, he said, adding that it would culminate on Sept 16 in Sarawak.
Salleh said last year’s ‘Sehati Sejiwa’ (One Heart, One Soul) theme had been retained as it was still appropriate to mobilise all members of society despite their differences.
“This independence will not last if it is not maintained and we have to focus on the people to liberate their thinking so as to be able to stand on their own feet and cooperate with other countries,” he said in Putrajaya yesterday.