KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin knows how to set the celebratory mood, and he did it through his passion - music.
Renowned for his spontaneous gestures, Juhar took to the stage to perform two songs. The first was his favourite, Frank Sinatra’s "My Way," followed by the patriotic anthem "Sejahtera Malaysia."
He led the crowd, along with the dignitaries on stage, in singing the anthem twice, amplifying the spirit of unity and patriotism.
As the final notes of "Sejahtera Malaysia" echoed through the venue, Juhar, accompanied by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, his three deputies Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, and Datuk Shehelmey Yahya, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick, and other officials, led thousands of spectators in a rousing rendition of the song, which was sung twice to further elevate the celebratory atmosphere.
Spectators from all walks of life joined in, waving mini Malaysia and Sabah flags as they sang along, creating a sea of unity and national pride.
This year marked the state government’s first official celebration of Sabah Day, reflecting its independence from British rule on Aug 31, 1963.
The event featured a series of performances, including singing and dancing, along with historical exhibits at various booths.
Held at the city’s historic Padang Merdeka on Saturday (Aug 31), where the formation of Malaysia was declared 61 years ago, this memorable event was organised for the first time after 60 years.
People flocked to the area well-prepared; some brought mats and ‘picnicked’ on the ground, bringing their own food, while others enjoyed refreshments from stalls.
Some even carried boxes to create makeshift seating for their loved ones.
Sixteen colourful floats culminated the event, which were decorated aligning with the theme "Sabah My Homeland, Sabah Independent State," a concept highlighting Sabah’s beauty from the flora and fauna to the underwater world.
