LABUAN — A total of 3,644 participants from 80 contingents took part in the 1448H/2026M Maulidur Rasul celebration parade at Dataran Labuan here on Tuesday night, with government agencies, uniformed bodies, villages, schools, higher education institutions, private organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) taking part in the event.
Labuan Member of Parliament Datuk Indera Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman said the celebration should go beyond commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad, by encouraging the community to embody his teachings and exemplary character in their daily lives.
“Love for Prophet Muhammad cannot be confined to words; it must be demonstrated through good character, trustworthiness, compassion and honesty,” he said in his speech at the celebration with a theme “MADANI Dihayati, Ummah Diberkati ”.
Suhaili said the theme must be translated into action by instilling values such as good character, trustworthiness, knowledge, compassion and mutual respect in families, workplaces, mosques, schools and the wider community.
He said Labuan’s strength was not only reflected in its infrastructure and economic activities, but also in the close relationships among its people.
“Labuan is our shared home,” he said, describing the island’s diversity in terms of ethnicity, culture, occupation and social background as a source of strength for the community.
Suhaili called for greater cooperation among mosques, government agencies, community organisations, village leaders, youth and volunteers to strengthen unity and social harmony in Labuan.
He also emphasised the importance of empowering young people, saying they should be given greater opportunities to lead, create and serve the community.
“Labuan’s youth must be given space to lead, create and serve,” he said, adding that young people were not merely the leaders of the future but also partners in Labuan’s development today.
Meanwhile, Labuan Corporation emerged champion in the government department category of the banner competition, followed by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) in second place and the Department of National Unity and National Integration in third.
In the village category, Surau Al-Mubarakah, Sungai Bangat took first place, followed by Rancha-Rancha Darat Mosque and Al-Hijrah Mosque, Kampung Miri.
The uniformed bodies category was won by the Fire and Rescue Department, with the Customs Department second and the Royal Malaysia Police third.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat emerged champion in the private and NGO category, followed by Puspanita and the Islamic Women’s Welfare Organisation Liaison.
SRA Al-Ahmadiah Patau-Patau won the national and religious primary school category, followed by SK Sungai Bedaun and SRITI.
The secondary school and higher education institution category was won by SM St Anthony, with Universiti Malaysia Sabah Labuan International Campus (UMSKAL) second and Advanced Technology Training Centre, Department of Manpower (ADTEC JTM) third.
For the parade competition, Al-Munawwar Mosque, Kampung Pohon Batu emerged champion in the village and mosque category, followed by Kampung Belukut and Kampung Kilan.
The Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) won first place in the government department category, followed by the Public Works Department (JKR) and Labuan Corporation.
The Royal Malaysia Police emerged champion in the uniformed bodies category, with the Fire and Rescue Department second and the Royal Malaysian Air Force third.
In the private and NGO category, Mahad Tahfiz Quran Darul Abqari emerged first, followed by Puspanita and An-Naba Learning Centre.
Al-Ahmadiah Patau-Patau Religious Primary School also emerged champion in the primary school category, followed by Zone 4 KAFA and SRA Nurul Falah Bukit Kalam.
For the secondary school and public/private higher education institution category, the vocational college emerged champion, followed by SMA MAIWP and SM St Anthony.
Suhaili said the spirit of the Maulidur Rasul celebration should continue beyond the event, urging the people to practise the exemplary qualities of Prophet Muhammad consistently, including greeting others, helping neighbours, respecting parents and being honest at work.
He said small, sincere and continuous acts could contribute towards building harmonious families, safe neighbourhoods and a society founded on mutual trust.
Suhaili also expressed appreciation to the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (JAWI), Labuan Corporation, the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council Labuan (MAIWP), government departments and all parties involved in organising the celebration, as well as invited speaker Datuk Ustaz Malai Ali Malai Ahmad.
