Bon voyage, Tuanku: Scores of schoolchildren and teachers were part of the crowd lining the streets as the King, Queen and Their Majesties’ entourage embarked on the Kembara Kenali Borneo road trip at 0KM Padang Perbandaran Tawau in Tawau, Sabah. — Bernama
King and family kick off 2,154km 4WD-tour via Pan Borneo Highway over 10 days
TAWAU: An unusual buzz of excitement filled the air in Tawau town as the people waited for the arrival of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah at 0KM Padang Perbandaran Tawau here, where the royal couple set off on the Kembara Kenali Borneo tour.
The King, who drove a four-wheel-drive vehicle, led the 25-vehicle convoy, which Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin flagged off at 8.30am.
The King and Queen will be accompanied by their children, Tengku Arif Bendahara Tengku Muhammad Iskandar Ri’ayatuddin Shah, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah’ Athiyatullah, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Ilisha Ameera and Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Ilyana in the 2,154km tour via the Pan Borneo Highway.
The rain did not deter local residents from turning up en masse, waiting by the roadside to glimpse the royal couple and their entourage as they left Tawau for Lahad Datu.
Earlier, Sabah Mufti Datuk Bungsu @ Aziz Jaafar led the recitation of prayers for the safety and well-being of Their Majesties and the convoy participants.
The royal couple also posed for a commemorative photo at the 0km Roundabout, a significant landmark to mark the distance between the town’s public administrative centre and other destinations within the district.
Also present at the convoy flagging-off ceremony were the Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s wife, Toh Puan Norlidah R.M Jasni, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Sabah State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim Yahya and state Cabinet ministers.
Kembara Kenali Borneo will end at Telok Melano, Sarawak, on Sept 13, after traversing the Pan Borneo Highway that connects Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.
The royal visit will be a golden opportunity for Sabahans and Sarawakians to meet the royal couple and their entourage, reported Bernama.
The convoy will first stop at Menara Kayangan, an observation tower built on Mount Silam, located 884m above sea level and about 11km from Lahad Datu town.
The Sabah Forestry Department will brief the royal couple about the tower and the Sapagaya Forest Reserve.
Istana Negara said the rakyat’s enthusiasm for the Kembara Kenali Borneo tour touched Their Majesties.
The Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara, Mej Jen Datuk Zahari Mohd Ariffin, said Their Majesties appreciated the thousands of people who have greeted them during the tour so far.
Their Majesties also asked the people to pray that the tour would run smoothly and successfully.
He added His Majesty wanted the spirit of unity evident at the recent National Day 2023 celebration to be shown by Sabahans and Sarawakians at the Malaysia Day 2023 celebration on Sept 16.
