Sarawak Merdeka Convoy: Northern Region
The Sarawak 60th Anniversary celebration officially began on May 28, 2023 with the Sarawak Merdeka Convoy at Lawas, stopping at all 12 Divisions before ending the journey with a grand homecoming in Kuching on July 20, 2023. In this writeup, we’ll recap the convoy’s first three stops, which covered Sarawak’s Northern region. Keep an eye out for upcoming articles on the Central and Southern region!
Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg was a huge part of the grand celebrations, flagging off the entire convoy from Lawas’ Public Park on May 28 and joining in the convoy himself from Miri’s Indoor Stadium to the Naim Street Mall, Bintulu Paragon on June 10, 2023.
The convoy serves as the main event among nine large-scale programmes, organised in conjunction with the Sarawak’s 60th Anniversary celebrations themed ‘Sarawak Maju Makmur’. This is the first time the convoy will be able to make a stop in every Division, due to the recent completion of a road to Kapit.
Starting off in LAWAS, the 3,516km journey was accompanied by a total of 37 members involving 14 vehicles and four motorcycles from the Secretariat team of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS), the Traffic Patrol of the Royal Malaysian Police, the Health Department team, a Road Transport Department (JPJ) team and Mechanical Team of the Public Works Department (PWD).
The flagoff in Lawas was also attended by Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohammad Asfia Awang Nassar, Sarawak State Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, MTCP Deputy Minister, Datuk Sebastian Ting, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Deputy State Secretary, Datu Hii Chang Kee and Limbang Resident, Yunus Tambi.
Attended by over 4,600 people, the grand flag off in Lawas saw plenty of activities, including cultural performances, craft sales and demonstration as well as the Sarawak X-Tive programmes.
The following weekend on June 10, the Sarawak Merdeka Convoy brought together an astounding 8,300 people to MIRI’s Indoor Stadium. Sarawak Premier, Abang Jo even joined in on the fun, riding his blue superbike during the convoy’s Miri-Bintulu 168.3 km stretch, leading 268 participants in 56 four-wheel drive vehicles, 81 motorcycles and 8 buses.
Miri also marks the launch of the Sarawak 60 Years Digital Exhibition, which features videos on the state’s developments over the years. Happening alongside the exhibition were booths involving state ministries and organisations including TVS, Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development, Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Ministry of Public Health, Local Housing and Development, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development, Ministry of Utilities and Development, Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing, Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability.
On the morning of June 10, Deputy Premier, Dato Sri Sim Kui Hian flagged off the convoy led by Abang Jo, along with the rest of the participants, including Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. Among those present during the flagging-off ceremony were Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, and federal Deputy Minister of Health and Sibuti Member of Parliament (MP) Lukanisman Awang Sauni.
Along the way, the convoy made several stops, at Pantai Bungai, Subis and Kampung Nyalau before stopping at BINTULU town for the next leg of celebrations. Taking place inside the Bintulu Paragon Street Mall, the celebrations featured not just the Sarawak 60 Years Digital Exhibition, but also e-sports tournament, live entertainment as well as trade booths featuring food, beverage, crafts, fashion and many more. All in all, 3,250 people joined in in the festivities.
The convoy, headed by Deputy State Secretary of MYSED, Dolhadi bin Haji Marzuki and joined by Bintulu Bikers Community, Central Zone Bikers as well as 30 four-wheel drives from the Bintulu 4WD Club, was flagged off by Jepak Assemblyman, Datuk Talib Zulpilip. The convoy of 30 cars, 40 high-powered motorcycles and a mobile home even made a stop at Sebauh, 45 minutes away from Bintulu.
In Sebauh, the short stop was graced by Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Bintulu Resident, Nyurak Keti, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity & Regional Development, Sirah Daha, Sebauh District, William Manggoi, Political Secretary to the Premier of Sarawak, Jenny Banga and Sebauh Community Chief, Pemanca Limin Anai.
The convoy will continue into Sarawak’s Central region, covering Sibu, Mukah, Kapit and Sarikei, so stay tuned for our next update!
