KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — The concern, humility and love shown by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah to the people of Sabah and Sarawak during the Kembara Kenali Borneo tour has been lauded by the Dewan Negara.
In expressing his gratitude and appreciation, Senator Tan Sri Anifah Aman said these traits should be emulated by every leader, as the people of Sabah were moved by the friendliness of the royal couple and their children, who put protocol aside to mingle with the crowd throughout the 11-day tour.
“On behalf of the people of Sabah, I thank the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong, as well as their children for their willingness to engage with the people and get to know Borneo more closely,” he said before the debate on the motion of the 12th Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review at Dewan Negara today.
The former foreign minister hoped similar programmes will be held by other parties in an effort to get to know the people of the state better.
Representing the people of Sarawak, Senator Datuk Paul Igai said all levels of society in the state were deeply moved by the initiative taken by Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah to mingle, interact and take note of the issues raised by the people during the tour.
He said Their Majesties were determined to get to know the people and this was evident when they were willing to drive 2,154 kilometres along the Pan Borneo Highway from Tawau, Sabah to Telok Melano in the south of Sarawak and crossing over to Brunei and this made the people feel proud.
“The incredible love for Their Majesties who always have the people’s interests at heart can be seen when thousands of ordinary folk lined the roads that the royal entourage were passing through,” Igai said.
Also taking the opportunity to convey his deepest appreciation to the royal couple and their entourage was Senator Roderick Wong Siew Lead.
Describing the tour as very meaningful to the people of Sarawak, he also expressed hope and confidence that Al-Sultan Abdullah would take note of the matters raised by the people, especially on the lack of basic infrastructure facilities outside the Pan Borneo Highway.
The first-ever Kembara Kenali Borneo programme kicked off in Tawau, Sabah on September 3 and ended in Telok Melano, Sarawak on September 13.
The trip which covered a distance of 2,154 kilometres along the Pan Borneo Highway that connects Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei received an extraordinary response from the people in both states.
— Bernama
