KUANTAN: The proclamation ceremony to declare the state capital as a city on Feb 21 will be conducted on a moderate scale, with strict standard operating procedures to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said only a limited number of guests will be present at the event where the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah will make the proclamation.
"The number of guests has to be limited to comply with physical distancing. Due to the Covid-19 situation and other factors, the ceremony had to be postponed on several occasions before Feb 21 was chosen.
"The proclamation ceremony (of Kuantan as a city) follows the approval granted by the Federal government via a Cabinet meeting on May 8, 2019.
"The last time a similar event was held is on Sept 1, 1979, or around 40 years ago when Kuantan had its status upgraded from a district council to become a municipal council," he said in a statement today.
Wan Rosdy said although the ceremony will be carried out on a moderate scale, he hoped that the residents in the state capital and Pahang generally will be proud of the historical event on Sunday to mark Kuantan as a city.
Meanwhile, he said the King will be accompanied by Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman along with Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin will be also present at the event.
Earlier today, it was reported that the King will also open the Kuantan City Council Complex at Tanah Putih and appoint the first mayor of Kuantan at the ceremony.
Later at night, Menara Kuantan 188, the country's second-tallest tower, and Jambatan Putra - linking Bandar Putra in Tanjung Lumpur and Kuantan city centre - will also be opened.