SEBAUH: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah delighted the atmosphere at Rumah Raymond Plen by serenading the crowd with the popular Iban song ‘Berkikis Bulu Betis’ along with several local tunes.
This visit marked the first-ever royal visit to a longhouse in Sarawak as part of the ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’ expedition on today (Sept 11).
During his visit, the King expressed a keen interest in the traditional longhouse concept in Sarawak and expressed his desire to introduce a similar concept in Pahang.
His Majesty was accompanied by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, and their children, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, Tengku Ahmad Ismail Mu’adznam Shah, and Tengku Amir Nasser Ibrahim Tengku Arif Bendahara Ibrahim.
The royal entourage received a warm welcome from acting Head of State, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, and his wife, Datin Sri Fatimah Mohd Iskandar, and were treated to vibrant cultural performances by the Iban, Melanau Vaiee, Chinese, and Orang Ulu communities.
At Rumah Raymond Plen, the King and Queen signed the ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’ plaque and the attendance book before embarking on a tour of the extensive 53-door longhouse. They also explored an exhibition showcasing unique products crafted by the residents.
Both the King and his son, Tengku Hassanal, made donations to those in need. Additionally, the King agreed to participate in fishing activities in Sungai Sebauh, while the Queen conducted cooking demonstrations. She prepared dishes like egg curry, young papaya soup, Siam Bihun, and Sour Prawns for the gathered guests.
Amidst this memorable visit, the voices of the longhouse residents resounded with cheers of ‘Happy Birthday’ as they surprised Tengku Ahmad Ismail, celebrating his birthday on Sept 11, and Tengku Hassanal’s birthday on Sept 17.
