TELUPID: A woman with a hearing disability yesterday presented her painting to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, at the ‘Santapan Bersama Masyarakat Telupid’ (feast with the people of Telupid), held in conjunction with ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’.
It is a wedding portrait of Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah, which was reproduced in a painting by Rosemary Yvonne Marcus, 42, in conjunction with the royal couple’s visit to Telupid.
According to Rosemary Yvonne’s younger sister, Mary Anne, 39, Their Majesties also bought three more of her sister’s paintings – portraits of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong with King Charles III of the United Kingdom playing polo, in two variations, one in colour and the other in black and white, as well as portrait of young Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah.
“Another is a painting of Their Majesties against the backdrop of Imbak Waterfall, located in the Imbak Kanyon Forest Reserve area.
“Their Majesties did not have the opportunity to visit Imbak Waterfall, so my sister painted this picture and the royal couple are interested in buying the painting,” Mary Anne told Bernama.
Mary Anne also expressed her gratitude to the King for His Majesty’s interest in purchasing her sister’s paintings, and said that the proceeds of the sale will be used to raise funds to establish an an art gallery for Rosemary Yvonne in Telupid.
She also said that her sister was born normal, but lost her hearing after being scalded by hot water when she was only 18 months old.
Mary Anne added that her sister has been dabbling in painting for the past 10 years, and her greatest achievement was being placed fifth at the 10th International Abilympics, an international technical and vocational skills competition for the disabled, held in France in March this year.
The arrival of Their Majesties at the Sabah Forestry Institute in Telupid was greeted with excitement, with the presence of thousands of people who had been waiting for the royal couple since noon.
At the event, Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah were entertained by the Magalai Labuk Dance, an artistic and cultural heritage of the Dusun Labuk tribe, one of the 13 tribes in Telupid, which is often performed in conjunction with official events, gatherings and weddings.
Their Majesties were also presented with a video clip of Tawai Waterfall, Telupid, a location with great potential to be developed as ecotourism destination, as it is located in the centre of Sabah and en route from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu.
At the same event, Al-Sultan Abdullah also presented prizes to the three winners of the fishing competition, before leaving for Ranau.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Tunku Azizah are currently on their ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’, from Sept 3 to 13, starting from Tawau, Sabah and ending in Telok Melano, Kuching, across the Pan Borneo Highway, which connects Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei. – BERNAMA
