SIBU: The Sibu Indoor Stadium which is located at the Old Airport Road here has been chosen as the venue for the national level Malaysia Day 2020 celebration on Sept 16.
This was agreed at the Malaysia Day 2020 Main Committee meeting chaired by Sarawak Utilities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, who is also the state minister responsible for the celebration here today.
The stadium has ample parking space to cater a large crowd.
“There will be about 1,000 people attending the celebration,” he said, adding those who are expected to be present are Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Sarawak Head of State Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Met by Bernama after the meeting, Dr Rundi said due to the large crowd, manual temperature scanning could not be carried out and thermal scanner will be placed at entrances to take the body temperature of all the guests from Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.
Guests are advised to come early to queue up and register their attendance with MySejahtera application.
All must observe the standard operating procedure and maintain a safe physical distance to avoid the spread of Covid-19.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed that there will be no changes to Covid-19 transmission so that this celebration can be held smoothly as we are trying to make it the most memorable occasion,” he said.
Rundi said it is important to make the young ones realise the importance of Malaysia Day to appreciate what the past leaders had worked hard for.
The event will be broadcast live by RTM while the rehearsal will be streamed live online by Unit Komunikasi Awam Sarawak (UKAS) from Sept 12 to 14.
Apart from that, the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) will be holding a one day programme to display the uniqueness of Sarawak unity in terms religious tolerance and understanding.
The programme included a forum, a dinner function and a Malaysia Day countdown on Sept 15.
The meeting was attended by committee members from Sarawak and Sabah while those from Peninsular Malaysia, including Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah could not make it due to flight cancellation.
However, they participated in the meeting via Zoom application.- Bernama