IPOH: Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, graced the state's Hari Pahlawan celebration at Dataran Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan today to honour the country's soldiers and security forces.
Despite the rain pouring down, it did not dampen spirits, and the event proceeded as scheduled.
Sultan Nazrin, who arrived at 9am, was accompanied by the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa, and the Raja Di Hilir of Perak, Raja Iskandar Dzulkarnain Sultan Idris Shah.
Also in attendance were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad; State Secretary Datuk Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim; Perak police chief Datuk Azizi Mat Aris; Commander of the Western Fleet of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Admiral Datuk Shamsuddin Ludin; and Army Commander of the Second Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Datuk Asri Shukor, along with other state representatives and department heads.
The ceremony began with the singing of the Perak state anthem, followed by an inspection of the honour guard by Sultan Nazrin. The guard consisted of three senior officers and 102 personnel from the Perak police headquarters, led by Assistant Superintendent Mohd Faizan Ahmad and assisted by Assistant Superintendent Wan Ahmad Fahmi.
The flag bearer was Inspector Muhammad Syamil Abdul Manan, with an assembly detachment comprising 408 officers and security personnel, including military and police veterans.
The ceremony continued with a special Hari Pahlawan prayer read by Assistant Superintendent Mohd Mahyuddin Mohd Mokhtar from the Ipoh police headquarters, followed by a poetry recitation titled 'Darah yang Terpercik di Baju' (Blood Splattered on Clothes), written by Norazimah Abu Bakar in 2020. The poem was recited by Corporal Nurul Syuhada Azmi from the Perak police headquarters and Lance Corporal Mohamad Fazreen Jamaluddin from the 9th Army Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment.
Once completed, the Rouse was sounded, and the Jalur Gemilang was raised again, followed by the state anthem before the main honour guard exited, marking the end of the ceremony.
Sultan Nazrin and other dignitaries then attended a banquet held in conjunction with the celebration at the Banquet Hall of Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan.
Hari Pahlawan is celebrated annually on July 31 to commemorate the end of the Emergency in Malaya, which took place on July 31, 1960.