David Thien
Parishioners of the Sacred Heart Cathedral led by Monsignor Primus Jouil assembled in front of the church to raise the Jalur Gemilang and the Sabah state flag as they sang the national anthem in Kota Kinabalu, after the 8 a.m. annual Mass to mark Merdeka Day on August 31 2011.
The ceremony ended with three shouts of ‘Merdeka’, ‘Merdeka’ and ‘Merdeka.’
Every year, the Catholic Church held this event to pray for Malaysia and all its national and state leaders, good leadership, good government and good governance for the sake of the people.
This was the only flag raising ceremony in Kota Kinabalu as this 31st August 2011 National
Day morning to mark Merdeka or Independence day coincided with the second day of Hari Raya.
Instead of the normal flag raising ceremony parade at the Merdeka Padang in Kota Kinabalu or other designated venue around Sabah, the annual state level commemorative event was postponed to Malaysia Day on September 16, 2011.
Beginning this year 2011, September 16 will be an annual holiday for West Malaysia as well as the government tries to win back electoral support throughout Malaysia.
The Federal Government in the past ignored Malaysia Day as Malaysia was formed on 16th September, 1963 not on 31st August 1957 which was the independence day of the States of the Federation of Malaya (without Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak).
Main picture taken from www.marilynjohn.wordpress.com
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