MIRI: Malaysian diving queen Pandelela Rinong will join some 80 parade contingents for the ceremonial parade in conjunction with the Head of State’s birthday celebration at Miri Stadium today.
The parade marks the three-day state-level 80th birthday celebration of Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, which commenced yesterday with thanksgiving prayer at At-Taqwa Mosque.
Director of the State Protocol and Public Relations Unit (UPAK) of Chief Minister’s Department, Dato Khir Busrah, revealed this during a ‘High Tea with Media’ hosted by UPAK at Mega Hotel yesterday.
Khir said the diving queen, who won silver in the women’s 10m synchronised platform event with her teammate at the Rio Olympic Games, would lead the contingent from Ministry of Youth, Sport and Solidarity.
The colourful parade which will include uniformed bodies, government departments and agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will commence around 8am soon after the arrival of the Head of State and wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem and wife Datin Patinggi Dato Jamilah Anu will also be present during the parade. A ‘pentas rakyat’
(people’s stage) will be held in the evening at the award-winning urban park complex, Miri City Fan featuring recording artistes namely Jay Jay, Haiza and Dayang Nurfaizah and two local singers Ricky Andreson and Norafizah Busman.
The public concert is expected to end around 11pm with a 10-minute fireworks display.
The celebration will continue on Sunday with tea reception at Miri Civic Centre. There will be an exhibition featuring the contributions and journey of Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib at the Miri Civic Centre, which is open to the public.
Also present at the function yesterday were Special Administrative Officer in the Chief Minister’s Office Dato Norhyati Ismail and media representatives.