Muslims Enliven Maulidur Rasul Celebrations Across Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- Muslims Saturday enlivened Maulidur Rasul celebrations with a parade and chanted the 'selawat' (praises to Prophet Muhammad) in remembrance of the sacrifices of Prophet Muhammad in spreading Islam. The national celebrations themed 'Perpaduan Nadi Transformasi Negara' (Unity, the Pulse of National Transformation), held at the Putra Mosque in Putrajaya, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. It began with a parade involving 12,325 participants from 149 contingents, of which 68 were government departments, 33 statutory bodies, 13 private sector, 10 uniform bodies, four schools, six universities and six non-governmental organisations. The contingents walked 1.8 kilometres from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry building to the Putra Mosque through Persiaran Perdana. Muhyiddin, in his speech, emphasised on the importance of unity among Muslims and resisting extremist activities to ensure the country's security and wellbeing. Also present at the event was Muhyiddin's wife, Noorainee Abdul Rahman, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom, cabinet ministers and foreign delegates. In JOHOR BAHARU, Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim led a one kilometre parade from the Istana Besar to the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque for the state-level Maulidur Rasul celebrations. The 3,000 participants involving 84 contingents were also accompanied by the Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, Johor Menteri Besar (chief minister) Mohamed Khaled Nordin and State Secretary Ismail Karim. The ceremony was also filled with recitation of the al-Quran, religious ceramah (lecture) by Johor Baharu Kadi (a judge ruling in accordance with Islamic religious law) Ahmad Hanif Naim and a speech from State Islamic Religious Committee chairman Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim. In MELAKA, cloudy skies did not stop a parade involving 7,778 participants from 124 contingents who chanted praises to Prophet Muhammad. -- BERNAMA