KOTA KINABALU: A Day to Bless Malaysia, an event to note appreciation for peace, progress and prosperity in the nation, will be held on September 15, 7pm to September 16, 12.30am at the Likas stadium this year.
The event is co-organized by the City Hall with the Christian community in Kota Kinabalu represented by Pastors Fellowship KK (PFKK), Sabah Council of Churches (SCC) and Commission on Sabah Affairs (COSA).
The event is endorsed by the government and is part of the State’s month-long programme to celebrate Sabah 50 Years of Independence and the formation of Malaysia.
Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir said more than 20,000 people are expected to take part in the event this year.
Churches throughout the nation have participated in this programme for the past 15 years and last year’s event, held at Likas Stadium attracted a crowd of 15,000, he said.
“The purpose of the event is to rally as many people as possible, coming together to bless our beloved nation.
“This event also concludes the 40 Days Fast and Pray for Malaysia programme,” Abidin said in a press conference here yesterday. Abidin is the guest of honour for the event.
The event will kick off with a food feast at 7pm, while the crowd is entertained by a line-up of traditional dancers from different indigenous groups. This will be followed by a time of praising God with songs and creative calligraphic movements with the participation of 1,200 young people on the field.
The programme will climax with 500 children and their parents crossing a rainbow bridge, made of ribbons, to dramatize the theme ‘Crossover into next 50 years’, before concluding with a firework display.
The event is free-of-charge and open to the public.
Meanwhile, SCC chairman Datuk Bishop Thomas Tsen urged the whole Christian community in Sabah to participate in the event.
“As our country, Malaysia is celebrating the 50th Jubilee Anniversary, here I would like to urge the whole Christian community in Sabah to come together in this very meaningful historical event of grand gathering at the Likas Stadium to give thanks, to pray and to bless our country Malaysia.”
“A Day to Bless Malaysia is an opportune time for all Christians to come together in unity and love to pray for God’s abundant blessings upon our State and country, and I wish to encourage all Catholics to come in full force to participate in this event,” said Datuk Archbishop John Wong.
Also present at the press conference was SCC representative cum organizing chairman Pastor Steven Choon.