Kota Kinabalu: About 50,000 people turned up at Dataran Bandaraya Monday for the Sabah 2026 National Day celebration, which featured a colourful parade involving some 10,000 participants.
A total of 173 participating contingents, made up of 121 marching contingents and 52 vehicle contingents, paraded along Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens.
The parade brought together schools, higher learning institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), ethnic associations, private and statutory bodies, as well as State and Federal government departments.
There were 10 competition categories, with the winners reflecting broad participation from both government and civil society.
SK Api Api Kota Kinabalu emerged champion in the primary school category, followed by SK Pengiran Siti Hafsah Karambunai and SK Tobobon Kota Kinabalu.
Kadet Koreksional Negeri Sabah took the secondary school title, ahead of Pasukan Kadet Bersatu Malaysia (Darat) SMK Badin and SMK Tebobon.
In the IPTA/IPTS category, Komander Kesatria UiTM Sabah emerged winner, followed by IPG Kampus Gaya Kota Kinabalu and Institut Latihan Teknik dan Perdagangan (ILTP) JPSM.
Majlis Belia Sabah won the NGO category, with Bulan Sabit Merah Daerah Kota Kinabalu and Persatuan Pandu Puteri Malaysia Cawangan Sabah taking second and third places, respectively.
The Persatuan Etnik Bajau Tabawan Sabah (Perbatas) emerged champion in the Sabah ethnic associations category, ahead of Sabata and Pertubuhan Rungus Bersatu Sabah (PRBS).
Kumpulan Yayasan Sabah won the private and statutory bodies category, followed by Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri Malaysia and DBKK Holdings Sdn Bhd.
For State Government departments without official uniforms, the Ministry of Finance Sabah emerged champion, followed by the Chief Minister’s Department and the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Sabah (KPSTI).
The Federal Secretary’s Office Sabah won the corresponding Federal category, ahead of Hospital Wanita dan Kanak-Kanak Sabah and the Sabah State Education Department.
In the State Government uniformed category, the Enforcement Department of City Hall (DBKK) took first place, followed by the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department and Sandakan Municipal Council.
The Royal Malaysian Customs Department emerged champion in the Federal Government uniformed category, with the Sabah Road Transport Department and Malaysian Volunteer Corps Department (Rela) placing second and third.
The parade provided a major display of patriotism and unity, with thousands of participants and spectators gathering in Kota Kinabalu to mark the national celebration.
Meanwhile, thousands of Sabahans packed Dataran Bandaraya as Head of State Tun Musa Aman and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor joined the colourful Sabah Day celebrations.
The event opened with Musa’s proclamation speech, followed by the flag-hoisting ceremony and a line-up of performances.
Highlights included a laser light show, choir presentation by the Male-Efficient group, performances by local artistes, a special montage and a rendition of Sabah Tanah Airku.
A Sabah Day-themed procession was also held. Musa was accompanied by his wife, Toh Puan Faridah Tussin, while Hajiji was accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Juliah Salag.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, State Secretary Datuk Zainudin Aman, State Cabinet Ministers and elected representatives.
The event was disrupted midway by a sudden thunderstorm and strong winds.
