15 UNSUNG HEROES TO BE HONOURED DURING M'SIA DAY CELEBRATION

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Fifteen unsung heroes who contributed
vastly towards the formation of Malaysia, will be honoured in conjunction with
national-level Malaysia Day celebrations in Kuching, capital city of East
Malaysia Sarawak-state, on Saturday.

The recipients, five from Sabah, five from Sarawak and another five from
peninsula Malaysia would receive certificates of appreciation from Prime Menteri
Najib Tun Razak at Padang Merdeka (Merdeka Field).

According to a statement from the Public Relations Unit of the Information
Communication and Culture ministry, the awards presentation is among three main
programmes lined up for the Malaysia Day celebrations, themed 1Malaysia (People
First, Performance now) and expected to be attended by 15,000 people, including
ambassadors, high commissioners and foreign dignitaries.

Najib, Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and Information
Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim are expected to
deliver their speech.

Apart from the awards presentation, a special 1Malaysia presentation would
see local artists like Dayang Nurfaizah, Adam, Bob, Linda, Claudia AF (Akademi
Fantasia), Fiq (mentor), Karen Wong and Yishwanathan providing the entertainment
together with cultural performances.


According to the statement, the National Archives (Arkib Negara) would also
organise an exhibition on the history of the formation of Malaysia while booths
displaying handicraft and traditional food would be set up at the Waterfront.

Last year, the government had decided to celebrate Malaysia Day on a grand
scale throughout the country, unlike in previous years whereby only Sabah and
Sarawak were involved in such celebrations.

The Malaysia Day celebration, to mark the formation of the federation by
Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah on Sept 16, 1963, was deferred from the Sept 16 date,
due to the fasting month.

-- BERNAMA