Thursday, January 6, 2011

11-day Do In Conjunction With 111th Anniversary Of Kampog Bharu


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- Many are not aware that Kampong Bharu, which is the major Malay settlement in the city centre here, will be 111 years old Thursday.

In conjunction with the anniversary, various programmes will be organised for the first time to celebrate the occasion by Centrepro Sdn Bhd together with the Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing as well as Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) which will also be celebrated by about 35,000 of its residents.

According to the managing director of Centrepro Sdn Bhd, Ishak Abdul Kadir, the programmes will begin tomorrow with a tahlil and thanksgiving session at the Masjid Jamek and several surau.

The climax of the celebrations will be a dinner which is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in February or the following month.

"The celebration, the first ever in the history of the formation of the Malay Agricultural Settlement (MAS) Administration, aims to give recognition and to remember the struggles of those who are no longer around or are still living in the historic kampung.

"In addition, it is to commemorate the 111-year existence of the Kampung Baru MAS Administration in the Kuala Lumpur capital city.

"The 111 years is a unique figure and MAS as a board under the Malays is seen as a strong administrator that upholds a village that is struggling for the Malays.

"The responsibility as a Malay who promotes the Malay sentiment has become a motivation to hold this celebration to remember the struggles of the race in defending a village that had once been administered by the colonialists in the past," Ishak told Bernama.

Ishak, who is also the Coordinator for the 'Kampong Bharu, Our Heritage' Programme, said among the events for the celebrations are the Health Day on Saturday, beginning from 8am to 6pm with various programmes provided such as physical exercise, blood donation, free medical examination, and a competition for children which will be held at the Kelab Sultan Sulaiman.

In addition, the residents, from children to adults, also have the opportunity to participate in the Sports Day and Traditional Games on Sunday at the same location.

-- BERNAMA