KUCHING: The people of Bumi Kenyalang (Land of the Hornbills) are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah in Sarawak for the ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’, which begins today.
Their enthusiasm is apparent on various social media platforms, such as Facebook, where some have shared ‘tips’ on using proper language if they happen to meet the royal couple.
In his post on the Facebook account ‘Cikgu Emmet Menulis,’ a well-known figure in Sarawak’s education fraternity, Ahmad Faizal Osman, invites Sarawak’s diverse ethnic communities to welcome Their Majesties with the state’s unique languages.
“Let us promote the beautiful local languages; for example, if Tuanku shakes hands with an Iban person, we greet with the phrase ‘Selamat Datai Tuanku ke menoa kami.’ In Serian or Bau, we greet with ‘Silamat Mandug Tuanku’ (Bidayuh language).
“In Mukah, the greeting is ‘Selamet datang Tuanku,’ while in Miri, the Kayan people may use the phrase ‘Sayu Ateng Tuanku.’ We want Tuanku to experience the richness of Sarawak’s diverse ethnic groups, characterised by tolerance, etiquette and strong moral values,” he said in a post today.
Ahmad Faizal also hopes that programmes like the Kembara Kenali Borneo will become an annual event for every Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA).
Meanwhile, another Facebook user, Mohd Hafidz Ras, offered precise protocol guidance concerning the royal titles of Al-Sultan Abdullah, Tunku Azizah and their children.
“I can’t wait for the arrival of Their Majesties the King and Queen, along with their children, in Miri,” he said in a post.
Another Facebook account owner, Redwan Mohd Faizul, is hoping that Al-Sultan Abdullah could visit Limbang even though it is not included in the Kembara Kenali Borneo route.
“We can only witness heart-warming moments during YDPA’s Borneo expedition through social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook and so on. We feel envious as we observe the warm interaction of the people in other places with the YDPA’s entourage,” he said.
The Kembara Kenali Borneo of Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah in Sarawak begins today from Lawas, the state’s northernmost town.
It will then continue to Miri on Sept 9, followed by visits to other places such as Tatau, Bintulu, Sibu and Sri Aman.
On Sept 13, Their Majesties will wrap up their tour with a trip to Telok Melano, the starting point of the Pan Borneo Highway, before returning to Kuching and departing for Kuala Lumpur.
The Kembara Kenali Borneo in Sarawak will cover a distance of 1,194 kilometres. – BERNAMA
