KOTA KINABALU, JULY 31: After two-year hiatus of Warrior’s Day celebration, Padang Merdeka saw the reenaction of the successful defence for the 1963 Kalabakan confrontation.

On Dec 29, 1963, four months after the formation of Malaysia, witnessed the unity of the Third Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD) Battalion from Peninsular Malaysia, police field force, Sabah Home Guard and the villagers in Kalabakan united to fight the battle.

The confrontation stemmed from intruders who were dissatisfied with Sabah and Sarawak joining the Malaysian Federation.

An officer, seven personnel from the 3rd Battalion Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD), while 18 other personnel were injured when defending the military base in Kalabakan that was situated at the border of East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Present were Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Head of State Tun
Juhar Mahiruddin at the ceremony that was held together with the launching of the
National Day Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang programme at Padang Merdeka here.

Later, Juhar accompanied by Hajiji and Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk
Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun who is also the main organising committee chairman
visited the exhibition booths set up around Padang Merdeka.

To mark the launch of the National Day Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang programme,
the Head of State together with Hajiji and Masidi flagged off the 15-vehicle convoy that
will travel throughout Sabah.

Earlier, Juhar presented the Jalur Gemilang (national flag) to the various state and
federal agencies as well as security forces.