metrose@thestar.com.my
MUAR: Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar hopes to make the grand Santai di Jambatan Sultan Ismail programme an annual event following the success of the first event held on Sunday night.
The
event, where the bridge spanning Sungai Muar between Bandar Maharani
and Tanjung Agas was turned into a park-like venue, attracted more than
40,000 people.
It was part of a five-day five-night celebration
organised in conjunction with the ruler’s 54th birthday who also
declared Bandar Maharani as Bandar DiRaja (Royal town).
The
bridge and all roads leading to it, which were closed between 3pm on
Sunday and 5am on Monday, were filled with people who wanted to watch
boat processions and huge fireworks that night.
Residents from
all walks of life started to fill the bridge, the Laman Maharani
recreational spot along Jalan Maharani and along river bank on both
sides as early as 7pm.
By 8pm the roads leading to the town from
Jalan Salleh, Jalan Bakri and Jalan Temenggong Ahmad were congested as
people were looking for spots to park their cars.
The Muar
municipal council had also turned parts of the stretch on the bridge
into a night market area with 140 stalls selling drinks, food and even
toys for the children.
Council president Zulkiflee Abbas said the Santai bersama Tuanku programme on the bridge was a very special event to allow the Ruler to meet his subjects without observing protocol.
Sultan
Ibrahim, who was accompanied by Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman
and Johor Police Chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff
arrived at the bridge at about 8.40pm.
The ruler decided to walk
to the middle of the more than one kilometre bridge to watch floats of
beautifully decorated vessels passing under the bridge.
He joined
the thousands of residents watching the floats standing up while
talking with villagers who were near him and shaking hands with them.
He
was very happy to see the huge crowd of people from all races filling
not only the bridge but along both riverbanks and roads along both sides
of the river.
“I think we should close the bridge once a year and organise this event annually,” he said.
The
Ruler then asked the crowd around him whether they like to see similar
event and the bridge closed once a year and the crowd shouted ‘Yes,
Tuanku!’
The Ruler repeated the question twice and was happy that the people of Muar wanted the event to be made an annual event.
After
spending about 30 minutes on the bridge Sultan Ibrahim and other
leaders, including UDA Holdings Berhad chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed
left the bridge.
However, the crowd continued to remain on the
bridge and in several parts of the town and at Tanjung Agas waiting for
the big firework show.
And all were thrilled, including old folks
and children, when at 10.30pm, fireworks started to brighten the night
sky over the river fired from a vessel berthed near the estuary.
Many
regarded the special ‘santai di jambatan’ programme very memorable as
the people can walk, eat, drink and even meet up with the Ruler on the
Sultan Ismail Bridge which is always busy with traffics.
SOURCE: THE STAR, NOVEMBER 30, 2012
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