Malaysian King To Launch 1433H Maal Hijrah Celebrations on Sunday

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysian King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin is scheduled to launch the national-level 1433H Maal Hijrah celebrations this Sunday. The celebration this time is themed, 'Mutual Understanding the Foundation for Unity of the Community'. The Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) in a statement on Friday said the King's consort Tuanku Nur Zahirah was also expected to attend the opening ceremony to be held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. Also present will be Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Noorainee Abdul Rahman, cabinet ministers, foreign envoys and other invited guests. The statement said the theme chosen was in line with the government's objective for the people to be united, cooperative and mutually understanding, as well as to respect each other's faith in helping Malaysia become a developed nation by 2020. A total of 4,500 participants from 122 contingents from the government and private sector are also expected at the gathering. The highlight of the event will be the presentation of the national and international Tokoh Maal Hijrah awards to the selected candidates based on such criteria as being widely knowledgeable, possessing outstanding personality and having made excellent contributions to Islam. They will each receive RM100,000, a plaque, medal and certificate of appreciation. The Maal Hijrah celebrations will also include a special religious forum, and reading of the Yasin and a Doa Selamat at the National Mosque this Saturday. -- BERNAMA Malaysia