Pakatan states put up grand shows.

GEORGE TOWN: Five states kicked off their first National Day celebrations this year under Pakatan Rakyat.

With seven inspired shouts of “Merdeka!”, Penang kicked off the state-level National Day celebrations.

Celebrating 51 years of independence, more than 10,000 participants and onlookers gathered at the seafront area along the Bayan Lepas coastal road to watch the culturally-themed Semarak Merdeka show and parade.

Together with Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas and his consort Toh Puan Majimor Shariff were Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and elected representatives.

The entertainment included patriotic songs, boria performances and sajak (poem) recitals.

The two-hour event culminated in a parade by non-governmental organisations and uniformed bodies, school bands, private sector organisations, institutions of higher learning, training institutes and government departments.

In Alor Star, thousands of Kedahans thronged the Dataran Tunku at Jalan Tunku Ibrahim to watch the state-level parade.

Sultan Abdul Halim Mua’dzam Shah took the salute as 123 contingents from government departments, agencies, private sectors and NGOs took part in the march-past.

In Ipoh, thousands of people turned up at Stadium Indera Mulia for the Merdeka countdown on Saturday while scores more gathered along the streets of Ipoh Old Town to witness the annual parade yesterday morning.

Altogether, 90 smartly dressed contingents took part, including brass bands, government departments and agencies, police and uniformed personnel.

Sultan Azlan Shah launched the celebration, which culminated in the 9am parade that took off in front of the Ipoh Town Hall from Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab.

Accompanying him were Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Bainun, the Raja Muda Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, the Raja Puan Besar Tuanku Zara Salim, Raja di-Hilir Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa and Raja Puan Muda Perak Raja Nor Mahani Raja Shahar Shah.

Also present were Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and other Pakatan officials.

In Kota Baru, Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat attended the celebrations held at the Sultan Mohammed IV Stadium which involved 80 agencies and state government departments.

The Merdeka celebrations in Selangor were scaled down and held only on the eve as part of a cost-saving measure.
The Star