caption - From left to right: 1.Tiong officially handing over the flag to Kembara Team. 2.Tiong, Dr. Stephen Rundi Utom leading the convoy at Sebauh town. 3.Tiong King Sing (left) and Dr Stephen Rundi Utom performing the ceremonial send-off. At far right is Ubaidillah Abdul Latif. 4.Tiong King Sing (front row, 3rd left) and Dr Stephen Rundi Utom (2nd left) raising the national flag. Philip Ho and Ubaidillah Abdul Latif at are far left and far right respectively. BINTULU: The country needs citizens who are always prepared to face challenges, to serve the country and support govenment policies and campaigns no matter what line of work they may be in or be they working people or students. National unity and security should be given priority above all things and it is the responsibility of all Malaysians to ensure this, said Bintulu MP Dato Seri Tiong King Sing. He was speaking at the ceremony sending-off of the Kembara Merdeka Jalur Gemilang 2002 convoy at the esplanade here yesterday. He said: "To continue savour the fruits of independance, we must have the spirit of patriotism, and to be read to make sacrifices in our struggles in this new era to ensure our country continues to grow and do well." Where sacrifice is concerned, it may probably not be necessary now to carry arms, to sweat, or to spill blood to defend our country but it is the preserving the fruits of independance that is important, he stressed. "We have achieved Independance for 45 years. We have witnessed a lot of progress and development in various fields, including that of economic, politics, social development," he said. The ceremony started with a mass aerobic exercise followed with a children colouring contest. Tiong and Kemena assemblyman Dr Stephen Rundi Utom raised the national flag to the singing of the national anthem by the hundreds of people present, among them Bintulu Resident Ubaidillah Abdul Latif and District Officer Philip Ho. Tiong and Dr Stephen later performed the ceremonial send-off of the convoy as it proceeds on its way to Miri and Limbang before returning to Bintulu on Aug 28 to a welcoming ceremony, to be held at the Kpg Assyakirin padang at 8pm. On the 29th morning, the convoy will leave Bintulu to Sebauh, then to Rh Bilong and following that to Kpg Jepak before it leaves for its final destination in Sarikei for the state-level National Day Celebration on Aug 30.