Ceremonial parade for TYT’s birthday celebration to involve 78 contingents

KUCHING (Sept 24): A total 78 contingents will be involved in the ceremonial parade and assembly for the 78th birthday celebration of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar this Oct 12.

According to the minister in charge of the celebration Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the parade at Padang Merdeka Kuching is among the seven main events to be running from Oct 10 to 13, in connection with the occasion.

It will also be the first official birthday celebration of Wan Junaidi as the Head of State since he was appointed for the four-year tenure, effective from Jan 26 this year to Jan 26, 2028.

“The parade will be held on Oct 12, to commence at 8am. It will involve 78 contingents at Padang Merdeka Kuching. Everyone is welcome to come and enliven the event,” said Abdul Karim, the state Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts.

He said this to reporters after leading a courtesy call by the organising committee on Wan Junaidi and his wife, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, at Astana Negeri today.

Abdul Karim also said there would be an investiture ceremony for state honours taking place at the Astana, also on Oct 12, after the parade.

This would be followed by the State Banquet in the evening at Dewan Santapan of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex.

The birthday celebrations would start with a thanksgiving event on Oct 10 at Masjid Jamek Kuching, followed by a special sermon on Oct 11 evening involving all mosques throughout Sarawak.

This will be followed by a thanksgiving event hosted by the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) on Oct 11 at the Riverside Majestic Hotel.

The last event will be a high-tea reception on Oct 13 involving the ‘asnaf’ (underprivileged) groups and orphans, during which Wan Junaidi will present contributions to them.