Tasik Biru to host 722 Sarawak Independence Day Cultural Parade on July 22
Awang Ahmad (fourth right) hands over the event invitation to Sophian, while others look on.
KUCHING (June 27): The 722 Sarawak Independence Day Cultural Parade will be held at Tasik Biru, Bau on July 22 from 9am to 12 noon, in a celebration that will blend patriotism with cultural pride and unity.
Organising chairman Francis James Noew said the event will begin with the flag-raising ceremony of both the Crown flag and the current state flag, accompanied by the singing of 'Fairland Sarawak' and 'Ibu Pertiwi Ku'.
He announced the event following a courtesy visit to the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) Sarawak Executive Sophian Osman at the latter's office here yesterday.
According to him, the parade will commence with a welcoming address by the organiser, followed by speeches from representatives of the Chinese and Malay communities.
The highlight of the day will be a special address by guest-of-honour Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, a longtime supporter of the event since its very first 722 Sarawak Independence Day Walk in 2013, is scheduled to flag off the parade at approximately 10 am, said Francis.
The cultural procession will begin at the Bau Food Village, pass through the Bau Bazaar, and return to the starting point.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as Dayak, Malay, and Chinese cultural troupes have been invited to participate in the celebration.
'Participants are encouraged to wear traditional attire and bring their traditional musical instruments,' Francis said, adding that performances will include the lion dance, 'kompang', and the Bidayuh gong ensemble.
The event will also feature the 722 Convoy group, travelling from Lawas to Telok Melano, with a scheduled stop at Tasik Biru to join the festivities.
Invitations have also been extended to elected representatives from N1 Opar, N2 Tasik Biru, and Bengoh, as many parade participants originate from these constituencies.
'The Suhakam Sarawak executive and his team have also assured of their attendance,' Francis said, reiterating that freedom of speech and peaceful affiliation remain protected.
'As outlined in Suhakam's policy, the executive affirms that freedom of speech and affiliation is freely practised without interference or sabotage from third parties,' he said.
Participants may bring along placards or flags displaying their NGOs affiliations.
However, organisers have cautioned all parties not to exploit sensitive issues related to race, religion, or the royal institution (3R).
Organising Advisor Awang Ahmad Awang Ali also weighed in, stating: 'We are simply continuing the legacy started by the late Tok Nan (Pehin Sri Adenan Satem), Sarawak's former Chief Minister.'
The celebration will also include a live band performance at the venue from 12pm till 5pm. 722 Sarawak Independence Day Cultural Parade lead Tasik Biru
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
2 hours ago
- Daily Express
Police report filed against Sungai Buloh PAS chief over ‘inflammatory' post
Published on: Friday, June 27, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 27, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: The police report was filed at the Seberang Perai Tengah police headquarters last night. (DAP pic) PETALING JAYA: A police report has been lodged against Sungai Buloh PAS chief Zaharudin Muhammad over his recent social media post allegedly inciting racial sentiments by speculating about the possibility of a Malaysian of Chinese descent becoming prime minister. Kolektif Jalan Teruih, the Seberang Perai Tengah Youth Council, and Anak Muda Permatang Pauh said that Zaharudin's act was a form of provocation disguised as political satire, aimed at inciting racial tensions in a sly and irresponsible manner. The report was filed by Kolektif Jalan Teruih coordinator Nazirullah Nordin at the Seberang Perai Tengah police headquarters at 9.05pm yesterday. 'On the battlefield, there is no room for racial sentiment – only loyalty, courage, and love for the nation. It is only right that we firmly reject any attempt to stain the military with racial politics,' the groups said in a joint statement. The groups also said that the army was the nation's final line of defence, deserving of respect, dignity, and support, not mockery or weaponised to create fear. They called for Zaharudin to be investigated under the Sedition Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act. Zaharudin had attempted to defend his now-deleted Facebook post which included a photo of Johnny Lim, who was promoted to armed forces lieutenant-general earlier this week, becoming the first Malaysian of Chinese descent to attain the three-star rank. The PAS man said his post was aimed at raising awareness about the possibility of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) visa holders having children in Malaysia, seeking citizenship, and even voting in the country. He claimed the programme might result in an influx of foreigners into the country who would then apply for citizenship. That would allow for a 'prime minister born from among these foreigners by 2058', he said. Zaharudin, the son-in-law of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, also claimed to have included Lim's photo in his post merely for 'decorative purposes'. It was not intended to convey any explicit or implicit message, he said. DAP deputy secretary-general Steven Sim called for legal action to be taken against Zaharudin, while PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the post went against the Islamic party's stance. The MM2H Consultants Association meanwhile urged Zaharudin to apologise for claiming that the MM2H programme could lead to visa holders eventually becoming citizens and voting in Malaysia. Its president, Anthony Liew, said the programme's policy clearly states that MM2H passes cannot be converted. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Russia: Ukrainian drone attack on Kursk injures Chinese reporter
KURSK: A Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Kursk region on the border with Ukraine injured a war correspondent from the Chinese news outlet Phoenix TV, Russian authorities said late on Thursday, urging the United Nations to respond to the incident. "A Ukrainian drone today struck the village of Korenevo in the Korenevsky district," acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexander Khinshtein, said on the Telegram messaging app. "A 63-year-old correspondent, Lu Yuguang, who went to the border area on his own, was injured." Khinshtein said in a later post that the journalist had skin cuts to his head and after treatment, refused hospitalisation. Russia's foreign ministry called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other international organisations to "promptly respond and give a proper assessment" of the incident. "The targeted attack .... indicates the intention of the Kyiv regime to silence and de facto destroy representatives of any media that seek to convey objective information," Maria Zakharova, the foreign ministry's spokeswoman, said in a Telegram post. Reuters could not independently verify the reports. There was no immediate response from Ukraine's foreign ministry and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office to Reuters' request for comment outside business hours. Phoenix TV reported the incident but has not issued a separate statement. According to Russia's state and official media outlets, Lu has been reporting on the war since its early days. Russia launched the war with a full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022. Lu told Russia's state news agencies that he was feeling fine. "Western journalists are not visible at all (in Kursk)," Lu said in a video posted by TASS on social media, with his head in bandages, "We, Chinese journalists, want to convey what happened in the Kursk region." Russia and Ukraine have launched numerous cross-border attacks since the start of the war.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Ukrainian drone attack on Kursk injures Chinese reporter, Russia says
(Reuters) -A Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Kursk region on the border with Ukraine injured a war correspondent from the Chinese news outlet Phoenix TV, Russian authorities said late on Thursday, urging the United Nations to respond to the incident. "A Ukrainian drone today struck the village of Korenevo in the Korenevsky district," acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexander Khinshtein, said on the Telegram messaging app. "A 63-year-old correspondent, Lu Yuguang, who went to the border area on his own, was injured." Khinshtein said in a later post that the journalist had skin cuts to his head and after treatment, refused hospitalisation. Russia's foreign ministry called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other international organisations to "promptly respond and give a proper assessment" of the incident. "The targeted attack .... indicates the intention of the Kyiv regime to silence and de facto destroy representatives of any media that seek to convey objective information," Maria Zakharova, the foreign ministry's spokeswoman, said in a Telegram post. Reuters could not independently verify the reports. There was no immediate response from Ukraine's foreign ministry and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office to Reuters' request for comment outside business hours. Phoenix TV reported the incident but has not issued a separate statement. According to Russia's state and official media outlets, Lu has been reporting on the war since its early days. Russia launched the war with a full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022. Lu told Russia's state news agencies that he was feeling fine. "Western journalists are not visible at all (in Kursk)," Lu said in a video posted by TASS on social media, with his head in bandages, "We, Chinese journalists, want to convey what happened in the Kursk region." Russia and Ukraine have launched numerous cross-border attacks since the start of the war. Parts of Kursk were seized and occupied by Ukrainian forces in a surprise offensive in August 2024 before they were driven out earlier this year. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Warsaw; Additional reporting by the Beijing bureau; Writing by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
