LAWAS: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah arrived here safely last night, marking the beginning of the ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’ for the Sarawak level.
His Majesty’s entourage arrived at about 8 pm and were greeted by the Acting Yang Dipertua Negeri Sarawak, Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar and Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
The royal couple who were accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof received a lively welcome from about 10,000 people in Lawas who did not miss the opportunity to shake hands and take memorable photos with the royal couple.
In a brief statement by Al-Sultan Abdullah, His Majesty expressed his feelings of being moved by the warm welcome of the people in Sarawak’s northernmost city.
Awang Tengah in his opening speech earlier also shared the history of the visit of Al-Sultan Abdullah’s father, Al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah who had been to Ba’Kelalan, a highland area in the interior of Lawas, in 1982 when he became the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Awang Tengah also presented the development projects that are actively implemented in the relatively remote area from other parts of Sarawak with its position flanked by Brunei Darussalam in the south, Kalimantan region in the east and Sabah in the north.
Meanwhile, the royal entourage’s short stopover also provided an opportunity for the local tribes in Lawas comprising Malays, Kedayans, Lun Bawang, Chinese, Tagal and Iban to perform their cultural performances.
His Majesty’s convoy then continued their journey to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam by passing through the 30-kilometre Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Bridge and will be in the capital of Brunei Darussalam until today.
On Saturday, the convoy will re-enter Sarawak via Miri where several events are also planned before the convoy moves to Bekenu and Bintulu the following day.
This Kembara Kenali Borneo will also involve stops in Sibu, Sri Aman and Kuching, before completing a trip to Telok Melano, Lundu in the south of Sarawak on Sept 13. – BERNAMA
