PUTRAJAYA, Aug 31 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, graced the National Day 2024 celebration at Dataran Putrajaya today.
It is the first presence by Their Majesties at the country’s National Day celebration since Sultan Ibrahim was sworn in and crowned as the 17th King of Malaysia on January 31 and July 20, respectively.
Their Majesties arrived at 8am and were received on arrival by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
The fanfare from the “nafiri” resonated throughout Dataran Putrajaya before the songs "Hormat Diraja" and the national anthem "Negaraku" were played, followed by a fly-past by five helicopters carrying the Malaysian flag as well as the flags of the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Army, the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
Earlier, Anwar and Cabinet ministers arrived at Dataran Putrajaya to attend the National Day celebration.
Anwar and wife Dr Wan Azizah arrived at the Royal Stage Platform at 7.55am, while deputy prime ministers Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof arrived at 7.45am and 7.38am, respectively.
Also present were Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who is the National Day and Malaysia Day (HKHM) 2024 Celebration Main Committee chairman, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, Education Minister Fadhlina Yusof and Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh were also present.
The event, themed "Malaysia Madani: Jiwa Merdeka," was also attended by deputy ministers, dignitaries and foreign delegates.
This year’s celebration featured 17,262 participants, 67 contingents, 36 bands, 534 assets from the Malaysian Army and Royal Malaysian Air Force, and 100 service animals.
— Bernama
