JOHOR BARU: Some 30,000 Johoreans are expected to make a beeline along a 35km stretch here on Wednesday (Jan 31) to witness the sending-off ceremony of Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar as His Majesty starts the journey as the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Johor police chief Comm M. Kumar said that the Johor Ruler was expected to leave Istana Bukit Serene at about 8am on Wednesday and would head straight to the Royal Hangar at the Senai International Airport.
"His Majesty is expected to start his journey from Istana Bukit Serene at about 8am and is expected to reach the Royal Hangar in about an hour.
"Along the way, there will be thousands of Johoreans, estimated to be between 20,000 and 30,000, who will cheer and show their support for the Sultan," he said in a press conference here.
He added that some 1,200 policemen and other supporting agencies would be deployed to ensure the journey runs smoothly.
"The 35.5km of road will be closed for about an hour, starting from 7.45am.
"I urge those who have things to attend to in the morning to leave early.
"I would also like to remind the public to heed the advice of our personnel and officers for their own safety," he said.
Comm Kumar also encouraged Johoreans to turn up for the ceremony to show their support for the Sultan.
"There are about 15 points along the way the people could go to if they want to join the crowd.
"I urge Johoreans to come forward and show support to our Sultan. This is a histrionic moment for us," he said.
At a special meeting of the Conference of Rulers held at Istana Negara in October last year, Sultan Ibrahim was unanimously elected to become the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
His term would come into effect on Jan 31, 2024.
He would succeed the current King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, the Sultan of Pahang, whose five-year term would officially end on Jan 30, 2024.
