TELOK MELANO: After 11 days and 2,154km, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah have completed their Kembara Kenali Borneo tour at KM0 of the Pan Borneo Highway here.
The Royal entourage was welcomed by a large crowd waving flags and shouting “Daulat Tuanku” when they arrived in Telok Melano from Kuching, about 137km away, at about 12.40pm yesterday.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong was accompanied by his sons the Regent of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, Tengku Panglima Raja Kol Tengku Amir Nasser Ibrahim Shah and Tengku Ahmad Ismail Mu’adzam Shah on the final leg of the tour.
They posed for photos at the KM0 signboard before greeting the crowd waiting by the roadside.
Also present were acting Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tan Sri Mohammad Asfia Awang Nassar, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and other state dignitaries.
During the visit, the King was briefed on the background and progress of the Pan Borneo Highway in Sarawak, which is 97% complete.
“This first-ever tour by Their Majesties reflects their concern in the government’s efforts to improve Sarawak’s road infrastructure as a catalyst for socioeconomic and industrial development, besides enhancing comfort and safety for road users,” the Works Ministry said in a statement.
The King later performed the earth-breaking ceremony for a new mosque in Telok Melano.
He consented for the mosque to be named Masjid Al-Sultan Abdullah.
For the villagers, it was a proud moment to welcome the King to Telok Melano, which was previously only accessible by boat before the 33km road to Sematan was built as the first section of the Pan Borneo Highway.
“This is a historic occasion, not only for Telok Melano but Lundu district, as this is the first time the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has come here,” villager Wasli Mos said.
Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah began the Kembara Kenali Borneo tour in Tawau on Sept 3 to get to know Malaysians living in Sabah and Sarawak.
