PROPHET'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS WILL SEE 150,000 SPECTATORS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 (Bernama) -- Over 150,000 spectators, including
foreign tourists, are expected to flock to Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka) for
the national-level Prophet's Birthday (Maulidur Rasul) celebration on Monday.

The event will also see aerobatic displays by both the Royal Malaysian Air
Force and the Royal Malaysian Police, besides stage performances by local
artistes like Hijjaz band, Nakasutra, Waheeda and Akhil Hayy.

Malaysia Islamic Development Department deputy director-general Md Nor Abdul
Hamid said this year's celebration would be different from previous events.

For example, he said, the celebration would see for the first time, a
recipient of the 'Perdana Award' and a mass procession which begins
simultaneously from eight mosques in the city before they gather at Dataran
Merdeka.

"A total of 165 contingents from throughout the country will participate in
the procession," he told a press conference here today.

The celebration will be launched by King Tuanku Mizan
Zainal Abidin.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his deputy, Najib Tun Razak, and
cabinet ministers will also attend the celebration.

-- BERNAMA