‘Raja Kita’ exhibition at Kota Samarahan expected to be main attraction for state-level King’s birthday bash

KUCHING (Aug 23): The ‘Raja Kita’ exhibition at Kota Samarahan near here is expected to be the main attraction for the state-level Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim’s birthday celebration slated for Sept 5 to 8 this year.

Event organising minister, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, who is Minister of Utility and Telecommunication, told reporters yesterday that government agencies including State Information Department (Japen); Protocol, Ceremonial and Event Management Unit (Uppan); Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) and Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) will be in the forefront to organise the historic event.

He himself, too, will be assisted by four state deputy ministers in Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Datuk Abdul Rahman Ismail, Datuk Aidel Lariwoo and Datuk Martin Ben.

“The exhibition to be held at the Summer Mall Kota Samarahan is expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors within that four-day period. It will be launched at 2pm on Sept 5,” he said.

Among the items on display at the exhibition will be tools and regalia of the Royal Majesty as well as the biography of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim in regards to his childhood days until his installation day in July this year, said Julaihi, who is Sebuyau assemblyman.

“The ‘Raja Kita’ exhibition will be an attraction and also, historic. Since we never had any Sultan in Sarawak, such items on display will certainly be a must-see,” he said.

Apart from the exhibition, there will be two separate Thanksgiving prayer sessions – one at the Al Mutaqqin mosque by the Muslim community on the afternoon of Sept 6 (Friday prayer) and the other, at Kota Samarahan Civic Centre by Unit For Other Religions (Unifor) on the night of Sept 5.

A grand hi-tea session will be held at DeTAR Putra hall of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) on Sept 7.

The Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and their respective wives would be among the 500 invited guests at the hi-tea session.

The official date of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong’s birthday was June 3, 2024 but the nationwide celebration for it was deferred to next month.