KUCHING: Sarawak, hailed as an emblematic state, stands tall among its counterparts, as a testament of harmonious co-existence by its multicultural population.
As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of Sarawak Day, we bear witness to the beautiful tapestry of unity woven by our diverse community, whose collective efforts have paved the way for the success of this grand celebration.
At the break of dawn, a wave of unity surged through the streets, as vibrant members of the community converged upon the Sarawak Day ceremony, their sunny disposition eclipsed perhaps only by the sun which heralded this momentous occasion.
July 22 holds significant importance for the people of Sarawak, as it marks the momentous occasion when the region achieved independence from colonial governance.
Sarawak was granted self-government on July 22, 1963, with the expectation that it would be party to the formation of the Federation of Malaysia on Sept 16 of the same year.
The celebration of Sarawak’s 60th independence anniversary was lively from the outset, with a parade of 75 contingents taking centre stage, witnessed by throngs of both locals and visitors at the celebration grounds in Padang Merdeka.
And the good weather, which followed a rainy spell over the previous days, saw to it that all the activities went according to plan.
Many local artistes as well as those from outside Sarawak such as Awie, Ungu, Floor 88, Masterpiece, Dolla, Joe Flizzow, Firdaus Materang, Bob Yunus, Ramles Walter and others kept the momentum going in a concert the same evening.
All said, it was a colourful celebration, with the Sarawak flag flying majestically, underscoring 60 years of change brought by the six chief ministers of Sarawak.
In line with the theme ‘Sarawak Maju Makmur’ this is expected to continue to lead Sarawak towards its aspiration of becoming a developed and high-income state by 2030.
