50,000 unite in celebration for new Islamic year

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 50,000 participants attended the national level Maal Hijrah procession in the city today to mark the start of a new year in the Islamic calendar.
Participants clad in traditional baju melayu and baju kurung came as early as 7am to gather in six starting points (Dataran Merdeka, Padang Merbok, Muzium Negara, Masjid Jamek, Islamic Art Museum, Masjid Wilayah), before all of them converged at Masjid Negara, where the highlight of the celebration is held.
The contingent of the procession was participated by various government departments, private sector, non-governmental organisations and member of the public.
The procession at Dataran Merdeka was led by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
Jamil in his speech congratulated the Malaysia Islamic Development Department and other involved parties for their strategic collaboration that made the celebration a success.
He added the celebration was significant with the current situation and in line with the government's efforts to strengthen the principle of acceptance, patriotism and social justice among the public.
"Through this agenda, I hope Malaysians will remain unite, cooperative, respecting each other and becoming the pulse of nation's transformation," he said.
Participants started their march to Masjid Negara at 7.45am, where they recited the "selawat" (praising chant for the Prophet Muhammad) along the way.
The team for the Maal Hijrah celebration this year is "Perpaduan Nadi Transformasi Negara" (unity is the pulse of nation's transformation).
This is the first time the highlight of Maal Hijrah celebration held in Masjid Negara in conjunction of the mosque's golden jubilee.