SIBU: Lily Ajau, a 36-year-old mother, waded through the crowd to get the signature of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah for her son's Sape.
It was Ajau's second attempt to get the 7kg Iban musical instrument signed by the King. Her first try was on Monday (Sept 11).
"Since last night (Monday), my son has insisted on getting the King's signature. We were waiting for the arrival of His Majesty in front of SMK Methodist, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg from 5pm to 8pm as we were told he would drive through the place," she said on Tuesday (Sept 12).
However, the King's entourage used a different route to the Kampung Nyabor Melayu Club Hall to attend a community dinner.
Seeing that she told her son Elthan Donatus, 10, that it was late and they needed to go home as he had to attend school the next day.
"After finishing dinner, he asked us to go to the RH Hotel where the King was staying, but I didn't want to because I feared that we would oversleep and he would miss school.
"He felt very disappointed. This morning, when he was about to leave for school, he reminded me that I must get the signature," she said.
Seeing her son's determination to get the King's signature, Ajau, after sending Donatus to school, carried the Sape to meet the King, who would be visiting the central market.
"I prayed very hard as I didn't want to be unlucky the second time. When I saw Their Majesty's vehicle, I chased after it.
"Luckily, the vehicle stopped, and I asked someone in front of me to give way. I then brought the slightly long Sape to the King to sign on it," she recalled.
After getting the autograph, Lily was over the moon and described it as a historic moment. Although it was just an autograph, it was a once-in-a-lifetime memory.
What is important, she stressed, is that her son's request has been fulfilled.
"I hope Elthan is happy after this. This is my sacrifice for him because it is not easy to get our King's autograph," she said.
