THE Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s royal address will be the focus of the this year’s National Day celebration.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said this will only be the second time in the history of Merdeka Day celebration that the Agong will be delivering a royal address.

The first was by the fourth Agong Almarhum Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin Shah 50 years ago, during the royal proclamation of the Rukun Negara, said Saifuddin.

The National Day celebration this year, themed Malaysia Prihatin (Malaysia Cares) will be held at Dataran Pahlawan, Precinct 1, Putrajaya. The Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah have consented to grace the event. 

Saifuddin says he is satisfied with National Day preparations so far, which he adds are progressing quite well. 

“Insyaallah, let us pray that all events will run smoothly as planned,” he says. 

This year’s celebration will be held on a modest scale to comply with the new normal as part of efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

The National Day 2020 celebration will also be telecast live by local television stations, Saifuddin adds. – Bernama, August 29, 2020.