caption - Right: Ismuni Tepo (right) showing Dato Seri Tiong King Sing the 400-gallon-water fire-engine acquired last year at a cost of RM1.2 million. Left: Pui Jin Kim receiving his certificate upon the completion of a one-day training on basic fire-fighting skills from Dato Seri Tiong King Sing. Looking on from 2nd right are Yusop Sanai, RELA officer-in-charge of Bintulu District, BINTULU: About 400 people took part in the Merdeka Walk around Bintulu town yesterday in the spirit of solidarity and patriotism. The walk started from the esplanade here after 8am upon the arrival of the national flag bearers from Miri. Miri Unity Department Officer Hasri bin Ali handed over the Jalur Gemilang to Bintulu MP Dato Seri Tiong King Sing at the esplanade here in a brief handing-over ceremony before the Merdeka Walk participated by members of uniformed bodies and various clubs began. Leading the walk were Tiong, Bintulu Resident Ubaidillah Abdul Latif, District Officer Philip Ho, Kemena assemblyman Dr Stephen Rundi, heads of government departments and communit leaders. From Bintulu, the Merdeka Walk was subsequently held in Mukah yesterday afternoon before being held in Sibu and Kanowit today. Organised by Biro Tatanegara of the Prime Minister's Office, the Merdeka Walk in the State started off in Limbang on Aug 12, Miri, Niah and Bekenu on Aug 13 before arriving in Bintulu. From Sibu, the Merdeka Walk will proceed on to Kapit (16th), Sarikei (17th), Saratok (17th), Betong (18th), Sri Aman (19th) before ending up at Kota Samarahan (19th). Meanwhile, a spokesman from Biro Tatanegara yesterday said three representatives from Sarawak will fly to Melaka on Aug 22 to participate in the Merdeka Walk from Melaka to Putra Jaya. They are expected to reach Putra Jaya at midnight on Aug 30 where they will hand over the national flag to the Prime Minister at 12.01am.