TYT to celebrate 78th birthday with key events

KUCHING: Sarawak Head of State (TYT), Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, and his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi are set to attend the 78th Birthday Celebration of the Head of State.

Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah announced after a courtesy call at Astana Negeri on Tuesday (Sept 24) that the celebration will be vibrant, featuring seven key events from Oct 10 to 13 here.

Abdul Karim, who is in charge of organising the event, stated that the festivities will begin with a Thanksgiving Ceremony at Masjid Jamek Kuching on Oct 10, followed by a special Friday sermon at mosques across Sarawak.

“On Oct 11, a multi-religious thanksgiving ceremony will take place at Riverside Majestic Hotel at 8pm, with around 750 invited guests expected to attend.

“Then, on Oct 12, the Parade and Grand Gathering will start at 8am at Padang Merdeka, Kuching, involving 78 contingents. The public are encouraged to attend and make the event lively,” Abdul Karim added.

Following the parade, the State Honours Award Ceremony will be held at 11.30am at Astana Negeri.

Later in the evening, the State Banquet will be held at 8pm in the Dining Hall of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN).

The celebration will conclude with a Tea Reception on Oct 13 at the Sarawak Chamber, Riverside Majestic Hotel.

The entire event will be broadcast live on TVS, Astro channel 122, MyTV, and through the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) Facebook page and YouTube channel, Ukas Channel.

This marks the first official birthday celebration for Wan Junaidi since his appointment on Jan 26, 2024. His term as Head of State spans from Jan 26, 2024, to Jan 26, 2028.

The courtesy call was also attended by several key figures, including Deputy Minister for Utilities and Telecommunications II, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi; Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni; Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department for Integrity and Ombudsman, Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya; Deputy Minister for Transport II, Dato Henry Harry Jinep; Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department for Native Laws and Customs, Datuk Jefferson Jamit Unyat; director of the Sarawak Protocol, Ceremony, and Event Management Unit, Hamdan Sharbini; director of Ukas, Samuel Simon; deputy director of the Unit for Other Religions, Caroline Chen Tze Yian; and deputy director of the Sarawak Islamic Affairs Department, Abang Borhanuddin Abang Ahmad Masuine.