KOTA KINABALU: The “Kembara Kenali Borneo” expedition will further underline Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah’s affection towards the people and caring personality of the royal couple.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the caring personality of the Royal couple and their easy going approach towards the people is reflected in the kind of reception Al-Sultan Abdullah and Raja Permaisuri received throughout their passage to participate in the ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’.
The King and Queen were greeted by an overwhelming presence of people, including those living in the interiors of Sabah and Sarawak because the first-ever tour by a head of state was a golden opportunity for the people of both states to meet the royal couple from close range and in person.
The “Kembara Kenali Borneo” from Sept 3 to 13, starting in Tawau, Sabah and ending in Telok Melano, Sarawak, will record a historic moment and unique experience of a host of programmes rich in customs, culture and tribal handicrafts scheduled with the people, according to the King’s wishes.
The Air Force aide-de-camp to the King, Brigadier-General Datuk Mohamed Zahari Yahya, who is also the chief operations officer of “Kembara Kenali Borneo”, had said numerous programmes have been arranged to enable the royal couple to engage with the people at morning or farmers markets, which are synonymous with the local communities and visit sites of unique natural beauty.
“In fact, the King and Queen were so obliging to the aspirations of the people who sought to greet the Royal couple in person throughout their journey from the Tawau Airport to the designated hotel that it took the Royal entourage five hours to reach the hotel for a journey that normally takes only less than 30 minutes,” said Fadillah.
Speaking to reporters after arriving at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang from Sabah, Fadillah said Al-Sultan Abdullah had also taken the opportunity to oblige, acknowledge and list down the requests made by the people, especially those related to infrastructure like roads, water supply and floods.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Al-Sultan Abdullah later passed on the list to the Chief Minister of Sabah Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and expressed confidence that issues raised by the people would be given due consideration by the state government.
“I am confident the aspirations and grievances of the people would be brought to the attention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and later to the Cabinet after the expedition,” he said.
Fadillah who was also part of the team that received the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s entourage in Tawau today before joining the ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’ said he believes the Sarawak state government has also lined up exciting programmes to welcome the Royal couple after the entourage arrive from the Sabah segment of the expedition.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that the people of Sarawak were also eager to meet and greet Al-Sultan Abdullah and Raja Permaisuri Agong.
The “Kembara Kenali Borneo” expedition will span 2,154 kilometres through the Pan Borneo Highway which connects Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.
In addition to Tawau, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong are scheduled to stopover in Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Telupid, Ranau, Kundasang, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Sipitang, Sabah and Lawas in Sarawak from Sept 3 to 7 before visiting Brunei for three days.
The entourage will then resume from Miri on Sept 9 and participate in drumming and sports activities and be feted to local feasts at Pantai Bungai Bekenu, before moving on to Bintulu, Tatau, Sibu, Sri Aman, Kuching and reaching the final destination at Telok Melano in Sarawak. – Bernama
