PUTRAJAYA: More than 10,000 Malaysians, mostly Muslims, crowded the Dataran Putra at 5pm today to seek blessings in the event “Pray for Malaysia” .
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor arrived at about 8.30pm and immediately went into the Putra Mosque to perform the Isyak prayer.
With the theme “Negaraku Sehati Sejiwa”, this year’s event was held in conjunction with the National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations. The annual programme was first held in 2014 at Dataran Merdeka.
“Pray for Malaysia” is aimed at promoting unity among diverse Malaysian communities in-line with the national integration agenda.
Present were Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.
The VIPs and the congregation prayed for the country’s continuous peace, harmony and prosperity.
A special prayer dedicated to the nation and its people’s well-being was recited by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
“Ya Allah, please bless every single Malaysian and please do not overlook any one of us.
“Please bless this country with everlasting peace and security,” Jamil said in the special prayer.
After the Isyak prayer, those present were then entertained with nasyid and selawat performances, religious talks and a firework display.
Every year, devotees of other faiths also took part in the programme and this year, 5,600 of them concurrently came together in different parts of the country.
The Buddhist community gathered in Ipoh, Perak and was joined by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
The Siamese Buddhist community assemble at Pendang, Kedah; the Hindus (Ijok, Selangor); the Christians at Tambunan, Sabah as well as Betong, Sarawak.
Meanwhile, the Sikh community came together at Malim Nawar, Perak.