PRIVATE SECTOR CONTRIBUTES US$8.6 MILLION FOR NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATION

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- The private sector, as well as
government-linked companies, have contributed about RM30 million (US$8.6 million)
for the 52nd National Day celebration to be held soon.

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said the
government appreciated their contributions, adding that the amount was the
highest ever contributed by the sector.

He told a press conference on the 52nd Independence/National Day celebration
here Friday, that the event, with the tagline "1Malaysia, People First,
Performance Now", would be celebrated on a moderate scale.

He said Prime Minister Najib Razak would launch the Independence month
celebration on Wednesday with the distribution of the national flag, the
Jalur Gemilang, to the public in Putrajaya.

Rais said the Independence month celebration would be held until Oct 16 and
that East Malaysia state of Sarawak had agreed to host the closing ceremony.

Considering that this year's Independence Day celebration would be during
the fasting month, the Merdeka procession would be a short one, he added.

He said political parties, including the opposition, would also be invited
to participate in events organised by the ministry for the National Day
celebration.

In another development, Rais said he would meet Health Minister Liow Tiong
Lai to find ways of curbing the spread of Influenza A (H1N1) in view of the
programmes to be held for the Merdeka month celebration. (US$1=RM3.50)
-- BERNAMA