KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will host this year's Malaysia Day celebration on Sept 16 while abiding by the pandemic's standard operating procedures (SOP).
The low-key celebration will see a limited attendance of around 500 people at the the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) near here.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said the celebration themed "Malaysia Prihatin" would also be subject to the Covid-19 situation in the state.
He said Sabah was chosen this time around during a virtual meeting of the main organising committee co-chaired by Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah on Tuesday.
"On behalf of the state cabinet, we are grateful and appreciate the federal government's decision for the trust and respect given to Sabah to once again organise this programme," he said after the virtual meeting at the Sabah Umno building here.
Bung Moktar said earlier they had met several relevant departments and agencies to ensure the smooth running of the coming programme.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic is still plaguing the country, he said the celebration would be held under strict adherence of the SOP.
Bung Moktar, who is also Sabah Works Minister said the celebration would feature a "tahlil", choir performance, Malaysia Day cake-cutting ceremony and montage screening.
The Sabah Cultural Board will present a special dance performance in line with the theme to invite Malaysians regardless of race and religion to fight the Covid-19 pandemic together.
"We hope through the Malaysia Day celebration we will not only instil the spirit of patriotism among the younger generation in the form of a united and harmonious nation.
"But through this celebration, we invite all Malaysians to stand in solidarity to fight the Covid-19 pandemic," said Bung Moktar.
The Malaysia Day celebration is hosted alternatively under the rotation system between Sabah and Sarawak.
Sabah last hosted the celebration in 2018 in Kota Kinabalu after Sarawak hosted two consecutive times in 2019 and 2020.