"You, the new generation, are the catalysts who will take Malaysia to greater heights," the Prime Minister said as he addressed the estimated 18,000 participants comprising mainly schoolchildren, government servants and uniformed personnel who were preparing for the National Day performance on Thursday. Najib was accompanied by Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak and the ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Sharifah Zahrah Syed Ahmad. At the rehearsal, Najib shouted out "Merdeka" seven times to recall the historic moment when first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj hailed the word as many times in 1957. In KOTA KINABALU, a full dress rehearsal was held for the Sabah-level National Day celebration at Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens. State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor, who is the chairman of the celebration organising committee, said more than 200 contingents participated in the parade.

Source: The Star August 29, 2017 06:11 UTC