The heart-warming account of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, fondly remembering the people of Sarawak and Sabah, whom he visited during the ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’ tour, is truly touching.
Undoubtedly, the tour by the royal family had a profound impact on both the people and His Majesty himself.
In a recent interview, the King’s senior private secretary, Datuk Nazim Mohd Alim, revealed that His Majesty still hums the ‘Bekikis Bulu Betis’ and ‘Hanya di Sabah’ songs, more than four months after the tour.
Accompanied by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and their children, Al-Sultan Abdullah led the convoy in a four-wheel vehicle, covering a remarkable distance of 2,332 kilometres in September of last year.
For my generation, this was an unprecedented experience made possible by the completion of the Pan Borneo Highway.
The memories of the royal family’s visit continue to resonate with the people of Sarawak. Photos of individuals waiting eagerly along the roadsides flooded social media. These images showed their excitement and anticipation of meeting the King and Queen.
Colleagues of mine shared their encounters with the royal entourage. One photographer recounted sprinting for approximately a kilometre to position himself ahead of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s vehicle and capture the moment.
On the final night of the tour, the King’s entourage was scheduled to arrive in Kuching late in the evening. However, their journey from Sibu, which normally takes about six hours, ended up lasting fifteen hours.
This was due to the royal entourage slowing down or stopping completely at every kilometre to greet the public lining the streets.
Some locals had waited for over five hours to catch a glimpse of the King, and their patience was rewarded.
His Majesty arrived in Kuching at midnight, where a welcoming crowd awaited him, and they were treated to a dinner reception. Even in the early hours of the morning, the King remained energetic and delivered a heartfelt speech.
He acknowledged the requests, applications, and suggestions from the people and pledged to address them. This was the King’s desire, and his senior private secretary confirmed that action had been taken.
It was a testament to a King whose heart beats for his people, and as his reign draws to a close, more heart-warming stories continue to emerge.
The Queen, Tunku Azizah, has also earned a reputation as a compassionate royal whose actions speak volumes about her character.
During Her Majesty’s visit to Sarawak, she and Al-Sultan Abdullah met a two-year-old girl named Missclyen Roland. The girl’s father, Roland Jimbai, had waited for hours to meet the King and Queen, whom they had only seen on television and social media.
Missclyen suffered from congenital generalised hypertrichosis (CGH) syndrome.
Tunku Azizah expressed her wish to adopt the girl, assuring that the costs of her education and treatment for hypertrichosis (known as Werewolf Syndrome) would be covered.
“I hope that this assistance will alleviate the burden on Missclyen’s father in providing care and raising her,” the letter read.
This was just one of the many compassionate gestures displayed by the Queen, whose down-to-earth nature and motherly figure garnered attention.
I had the privilege of personally encountering the King and Queen when they visited Kuching during the fasting month two years ago.
Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah, accompanied by their daughter, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Afzan Aminah Hafizatullah, took the time to buy food at the Satok Ramadan Bazaar.
The Queen and King’s generosity, humility, and approachable personalities were evident to all. They engaged effortlessly with the food vendors, sharing lighthearted moments.
On January 31, the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, will be installed as the 17th King.
As a nation that practices constitutional monarchy, particularly with our unique system of rotational monarchy among the nine rulers, we pray for the continued protection of Malaysia under the monarchy.
The King serves as the country’s umbrella, providing shelter for the people, especially during times of political and economic instability.
Daulat Tuanku!
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the New Sarawak Tribune.
