A group of Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members, led by the party's sole elected representative Dominique Ng Kim Ho, gathered this morning at Padang Merdeka, Kuching, to observe Malaysia Day which falls on Sept 16.

They carried a large banner with words in three languages - Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and English - stating that 'September 16, Malaysia Day, is the real National Day'.

Under a light rain, Ng - the opposition state assemblyperson for Kuching's Padungan - led about two dozen party members and supporters in singing the national anthem, Negaraku, and later hoisted the national flag alongside the state flag.

Watching nearby was a group of plain-clothed police personnel, some of them carrying cameras to take photos of the ceremony.

Earlier, Ng ( left ) who was dressed in official ceremonial uniform - read out the contents of the Proclamation of Malaysia touching on the Malaysia Agreement reached on July 9, 1963 among the various states, including Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah, on the establishment of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963.

State PKR Youth chief Ramli Mahtar also read out the contents of a separate Official Proclamation by Stephen Kalong Ningkan, Sarawak's post-independence first chief minister, on the independence for Sarawak from the British.

Both proclamations were first read out to Sarawakians 43 years ago at the same venue, which lies in the heart of Old Kuching Town.

Second celebration

Later, Ng told reporters this was the second time the opposition PKR had organised the gathering to commemorate Malaysia Day.

"We will observe Malaysia Day at the same time and place next year, and every year thereafter, and will make it a statewide celebration when PKR is in power," he added.

While the Sarawak government's 'Almanac' mentions Sept 16 as Malaysia Day, it is however not a state public holiday.

PKR is the only known political party to be celebrating Malaysia Day today.

In Kuching, many people feel that Malaysia Day should also be celebrated, especially for states like Sarawak and Sabah.

In the recent state assembly sitting, Ng clashed with Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud who disagreed that Sept 16, instead of Aug 31, should be celebrated as National Day in Sarawak.