K-POP STAR-LIKE WELCOME FOR KING, QUEEN IN SIBU
SIBU, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah who heads the Kembara Kenali Borneo (KKB) tour continues receiving a K-Pop star-like welcome from the people here today.
About a hundred people waited outside RH Hotel where the royal entourage stayed last night, and an estimated figure of 3,000 people were present at the Sibu Central Market this morning, especially after learning that the royal couple would be there for breakfast and a tour.
“We have set up lines and assigned our men to control the crowd at this market,” according to Sibu Police Chief ACP Zulkipfli Suhaili.
However, even though they were backed up by the General Operation Force, Sibu Municipal Council enforcement personnel and even the market’s security guard, the police were overwhelmed by the people who wanted to catch a glimpse of their beloved King and three sons.
As soon as Al-Sultan Abdullah arrived at the market at 8.47 am, the crowd cheered for him and chanted ‘Daulat Tuanku’.
His Majesty was then accompanied by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and other members of the state’s Cabinet to tour the market while being followed by the large crowd armed with their handphones in the air, eager to take photographs of the King and handsome princes.
“This is phenomenal,” a civil servant present at the market was heard saying.
Despite not being able to take a photograph with Al-Sultan Abdullah and personally present a bouquet to Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, the secretary of the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) Sibu Branch, Ita Ting said she and her companions from other religions were very happy that the royal family could make it to Sibu.
“It is historical and I’m sure it has been a very long and tiring journey for Their Majesties these few days. We pray to God to bless Their Majesties for keeping the country in peace and harmony,” said Ita who was accompanied by inter-religious community members from ACS, Masjid An-Nur, Sibu Sikh Temple Association, Sibu Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple, The Local Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is of Sibu and United Committee of Sibu Buddhist Association.
After the visit to the wet market the convoy heads to Sri Aman and then Kuching.
Their Majesties are accompanied by their sons, Pahang Regent, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, Tengku Panglima Raja Colonel Tengku Amir Nasser Ibrahim Shah and Tengku Ahmad Ismail Mu'adzam Shah.
The Kembara Kenali Borneo tour which fulfils the dream of Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah to get closer to the people of Sabah and Sarawak, concluded its journey in Sabah after it began on Sept 3.
The tour from Sept 3 to 13 starts in Tawau, Sabah and ends in Telok Melano, Sarawak, a distance of 2,154 km along the Pan Borneo Highway that connects Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.
-- BERNAMA
