PETRONAS today launched its 2004 Merdeka Campaign in conjunction with Malaysia’s 47th Independence Day celebrations.
Known as “Kempen Sambutan Kemerdekaan Ke-47 Bersama PETRONAS”, the campaign carries on what has become a tradition in PETRONAS, that aims at not only celebrating the National Day but also at nurturing and instilling the love for the country among all Malaysians.
The launch ceremony of the Merdeka Campaign was held and officiated by the President and CEO of PETRONAS, Tan Sri Dato Sri Mohd Hassan Marican at the Esplanade of Suria KLCC Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur, where PETRONAS also announced a series of activities and efforts it is undertaking this year to make the Merdeka month even more meaningful.
These activities and efforts include the following:
§ The distribution of national flags to members of the public (through PETRONAS Service Stations), schools and welfare homes;
§ Official fuel sponsorship for the Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race;
§ Fuel sponsorship for the Malay Journalists Association’s Jelajah Merdeka 2004 programme;
§ Fuel sponsorships for the Ministry of Information’s Kembara Merdeka 2004 programme;
§ Production of special National Day 2004 television and print public messages;
§ Konsert Merdeka KLCC 2004 on 30 August;
§ Merdeka 2004 Countdown and Fireworks and Light Show at KLCC on 30 August; and
§ PETRONAS’ participation in the National Day March Pass
This year, PETRONAS is distributing flags and buntings of various sizes worth RM2 million for the celebration. Of these, RM1 million worth of flags will be given out to the general public through selected PETRONAS service stations nationwide. Another RM500,000 worth of flags will go to schools in the Klang Valley and Selangor, and the remaining RM500,000 worth of flags will be distributed by the Kembara Merdeka convoy to selected schools and welfare homes in the States where PETRONAS operates.
PETRONAS is also the proud official fuel sponsor of the annual Merdeka Millennium Race to be held at the Sepang F-1 Circuit on 28 August, for which PETRONAS is supplying RM100,000 worth of fuel. For the Kembara Merdeka programme organised by the Information Ministry, PETRONAS is sponsoring RM30,000 worth of fuel for the convoy of 20 4×4 vehicles that are currently traveling throughout the country. The convoy is making its stops at selected schools and welfare homes in Terengganu, Perak, Melaka, Kedah, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan. Upon the convoy’s arrival, employees from PETRONAS’ subsidaries and regional offices from these States would join hands to decorate the schools and homes with the Jalur Gemilang.
The Malay Journalists Association’s Jelajah Merdeka 2004 for which PETRONAS sponsors RM50,000 worth of fuel, sees a convoy of about 500 big bikes traveling from State to State beginning from Kuala Lumpur to Sabah and Sarawak and back to Peninsular Malaysia, bringing a special message of national pride and patriotism to the public. The annual Jelajah Merdeka‘s itinerary ends with a hand-over of the message to the Prime Minister on the eve of the National Day. This is the third time PETRONAS is sponsoring fuel for the programme.
PETRONAS has also produced special television and print public messages for this year’s Merdeka celebrations. Guests at the launch were shown a part of the TV commercial, the full version of which will be aired beginning from the third week of August.
Not to miss out on entertaining the city folk in conjunction with the National Day, PETRONAS together with Astro will be organising the Konsert Merdeka KLCC 2004. This free concert will be held on the eve of the National Day at 9:00 p.m. at the KLCC Park. Among the artistes who will perform include Anita Sarawak, Alleycats, M. Nasir, May, Hattan, Siti Nurhaliza, Ruffedge, Candy Cheah, Dia Fadilla, Reshmonu, Vince Chong, and students from Akademi Fantasia 2. The concert is also co-sponsored by Exxon Mobil Malaysia.
Later on in the evening, the Merdeka 2004 Countdown will be held. This will culminate in a fireworks and light display of about seven minutes at the stroke of midnight to usher in Malaysia’s 47 years of independence.
On the National Day, employees of PETRONAS in Malaysia and overseas will observe this special day. In Malaysia, 107 employees from PETRONAS’ subsidiary in Pahang, MTBE Sdn Bhd will take part in the march-pass to be held in Kuantan, Pahang.
PETRONAS hopes that all its efforts will enhance the spirit of patriotism, the love for Malaysia and the understanding of the meaning of “merdeka” among its employees as well as all Malaysians.
The launch of the PETRONAS Merdeka Campaign was also attended by Information Ministry’s Secretary-General Dato’ Seri Dr Arshad Hashim; Federal Territory’s and Selangor State Department’s Education Directors Puan Noor Rezan Bapoo Hashim and Dato’ Yusoff Harun, Malaysian Paralympic Council’s Chief Executive Officer Haji Zainal Abidin Abu Zarin; Malay Journalists Association’s President Datuk Yazid Othman, KLCC Holdings Group CEO Datuk Ishak Imam Abas, Exxon Mobil Malaysia’s Chairman Mr. Robert Fisher, Astro’s Director Dato’ Badri Masri and Astro’s CEO, Mr. Ralph Marshall.
Issued by
Media Relations & Information Department
Legal & Corporate Affairs Division
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