A rundown of Sarawak 60th Anniversary celebrations
There are plenty of events to look forward to as this year’s Sarawak Day draws nearer! Sarawak will be celebrating its 60th anniversary on July 22, 2023, with parades, concerts and festivities galore, and the fun doesn’t stop there!
Celebrations officially began much earlier, on May 28 in Lawas with the Sarawak Merdeka Convoy. The convoy will be making its way down every division of Sarawak, stopping at Limbang, Miri, Bintulu, Mukah, Sibu, Kapit, Sarikei, Betong, Sri Aman, Serian and Samarahan before ending in Kuching.
At every stop, the Sarawak 60 Years Digital Exhibition is put on display, with the objective of showcasing Sarawak’s journey over the years as well as the Premier’s objectives and initiatives towards a developed Sarawak by 2030.
21 July 2023
Meanwhile, a Sarawak 60th Anniversary Thanksgiving ceremony will be held on July 21, 2023, with a state-level prayer at the Sarawak state Jamek Mosque at 5.30pm, and is expected to be attended by the Premier and his wife. Patrons can expect a talk titled, “Grateful for the Blessings of Independence” by the State Mufti, Sahibus Samahah Datu Haji Kipli bin Haji Yassin. The prayers will be attended by over 4,000 people and will be live streamed through TVS, Facebooks of Sarawak’s Department of Islamic Affairs and Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) and the UKAS YouTube channel.
Another thanksgiving ceremony will be held for the non-Muslims in the morning of July 21, at Pullman Hotel Kuching’s Colosseum Ballroom at 9am. The ceremony will be attended by the Premier, and involves 700 invited guests from various houses of worships throughout Sarawak. Like the thanksgiving prayers, it will also be live streamed through social media as well as TVS, Astro Channel 122 and MyTV.
22 July 2023
On the morning on July 22, the grand celebrations will begin at 8am at Kuching’s Padang Merdeka, with the Sarawak 60th Anniversary Assembly and Parade. With over 3,000 people from 60 contingents set to take part, the parade comprises state ministries, departments, agencies, higher education institutions as well as non-governmental agencies across Sarawak.
Every contingent will be taking centre stage to a medley of songs from the 60s to music of the millennium, all showcasing Sarawak’s unique culture and diversity. The parade is expected to be attended by the Governor of Sarawak, Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife, Toh Puan Raghad Kurdi Taib as well as the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg and his wife, Datuk Amar Puan Sri Hajah Juma'ani Tuanku Haji Bujang.
In the evening, members of the public can enjoy a Folk Concert at Padang Merdeka from 7pm onwards, featuring a mix of both local and international artists and bands! The first segment of the concert is an ode to Sarawak’s diverse cultures, with solo artists representing their ethnic groups taking the stage. First up is an Iban rock band from Sibu, Masterpiece, recognised as one of the most influential and important bands in Sarawak with hit songs including, “Sinu”, “Kumang Seari” and “Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai”. Also performing, Elizabeth Paya (Orang Ulu), Bob Yunus (Malay), Ng Chien Chien (Chinese), Firdaus Materang (Melanau), Carrie Geres (Bidayuh) and Ramles Walter (Iban).
The second segment features performances from some of Malaysia’s most popular artists, including Floor 88, DOLLA, Joe Flizzow and Dato Awie. Floor 88 is a pop rock group established in 2007 while DOLLA is a four-member girl group known for hits like “Dolla Make You Wanna” back in 2020. Joe Flizzow is a singer, rapper and music producer once part of the group Too Phat and Dato Awie is a musician, actor and was once the vocalist of the iconic rock group, Wings.
At 10pm, members of the public can get to enjoy a fireworks show before the highlight of the night, a performance from Indonesian band, Ungu. Known for their hit singles, “Demi Waktu”, “Tercipta Untukku”, “Andai Ku Tahu” and “Kekasih Gelapku”, Ungu was formed back in 1996 before gaining mainstream popularity in Malaysia around 2006.
For the grand finale, another fireworks show will be held close to midnight. Come one, come all! Bring your friends and family to Padang Merdeka in Kuching for a fun-filled day celebrating all things Sarawak!
29 July 2023
The celebrations don’t stop on July 22! On the following weekend, 22 boats will be lighting up the Kuching Waterfront during the Decorated Boat Parade. The parade will be joined by various agencies including Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (M-FICORD), Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development (MUDERN), Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD), Ministry of Public Health, Local Housing and Development, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED), Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP), Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD), Ministry of Utilities and Telecommunications (MUT), Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing, Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED), Ministry of Transport (MOTS), Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (MEESTY), Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA), Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), Samling Timber Group, Shin Yang Shipping/Group, Bintulu Port Holding (BPH), Kuching North City Hall (DBKU), Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA), Officer of the Premier of Sarawak and the Sarawak Governor’s Office.
Besides the boats, there will also be a Jet Ski performances, Perahu Tambang Parade as well as performances from Kuching-born artists, Dayang Nurfaizah and Hafiz Suip.
Street Parades
There will be three street parades held in August, to wrap up the Sarawak 60th Anniversary celebrations. At all three parades, 60 contingents will be taking part, involving various academies, clubs, organisations and colleges.
The first one will be held in Kuching on August 5, 2023 at 7pm, starting at the Travellion Commercial Centre and ending at the Kuching Post Office. Confirmed contingents of parade include Fit Aerobics and Dance Academy, Persatuan Persilatan Seni Asli Zamrud, Kelab ZDance Kuching, Department of Marine Fisheries, Sarawak Taiji Qigong Shibashi Association, Cats FM, Land and Survey Department, PERKESO, Dayak Bukit Kelingkang, Council of the City of Kuching South (MBKS), Kasuma Tari, Padawan Municipal Council, Sarawak Sports Corporation, City Jogger’s Club, Sarawak Skills, Sarawak Public Works Department, 1st Kuching Company The Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade Band, Kuching North City Hall (DBKU), Cosmopoint College & Tunku Abdul Rahman University (UNITAR) Sarawak, Kolej Abdillah and Sarawak Trade and Tourism.
The second Street Parade will be held in Sibu on August 12, 2023 at 5pm, starting and ending at Dataran Tun Tuanku Haji Bujang Phase 2. Some of the confirmed contingents include numerous school bands across Sibu like SMK Sacred Heart, SMK Tung Hua and SMK Tiong Hin, Sibu Municipal Council, Sibu Resident Office, Sibu Teo Chew Association, Persatuan Kebangsaan Punan, Sibu Teo Chew Association, the Federation of 7 Clans Association, Persatuan Melanau Sibu, Sibu Eng Ang Teng Tua Peh Kong Temple, Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) Sibu, United Chinese Association, Kelab Melayu Kampong Nyabor, Persatuan Gagong Sarawak, RASCOM, the Army and the Sarawak Police Contingent.
The third and final Street Parade will be held in Miri on August 19, 2023, beginning at Miri City Hall at 6pm and ending at Miri Times Square. Confirmed contingents include Marudi District Council, Open University Malaysia Miri, Curtin University, Pullman Hotel Miri, Petra Energy, Miri Resident Office, Pustaka Miri, Sarawak Forestry Cooperation, Riam Road Secondary Schools, SMK Lutong, SMK St. Columba, Champs Education, Miri Fire and Rescue Department, Customs Department, Persatuan Bisaya, Persatuan Dayak Miri, Miri City Council, Shin Yang Group of Companies, Pantai Batu Indah, Miri Public Works, Laku Management and Pelita Maslaut.
