Kembara Kenali Borneo: One Adventure Million Memories
KOTA KINABALU, 6 September 2023 - His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who is also the Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), together with Her Majesty The Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, was pleased to hold a Kembara Kenali Borneo tour in Sabah and Sarawak, starting from 3 to 13 September.
Making it more meaningful, His Majesty also drives his four-wheel drive vehicle, leading the convoy of 25 vehicles.
In conjunction with Malaysia Day on 16 September, the tour surely brings 1001 memories for the people covering the two states of East Malaysia, starting from Sabah and then Sarawak, and including the neighbouring Brunei, by traversing the Pan Borneo Highway.
The locations visited in Sabah involved several districts starting in Tawau on 3 September followed by Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Telupid, Ranau (Kundasang), Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and ending in Sipitang.
Meanwhile, the locations to be visited in Sarawak include Tebingan Lawas and starting 9 September at the Miri Handicraft Centre followed by Coco Cabana Miri, Kampung Pangkalan Lutong, Pantai Bungai Bekenu, Kampung Penan Muslim Batu 10, Rumah Panjang Raymond Plen, Sungai Gelam, Sebauh, Tokong Yu Lung Tian En Si Sibu, Kampung Bandung Sibu, Pasar Central Sibu, Masjid Bahagian Sri Aman, Fort Alice Sri Aman and ending at Zero KM Pan Borneo Highway, Telok Melano on 13 September 2023.
This tour is not merely an official visit but a journey to reach out to the people, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.
This tour also reflects the commitment and dedication of both the King and Queen in intensifying relations with the people.
Throughout this tour, various interesting programmes have been organised in each location visited.
Among them are heritage and cultural exhibition activities, traditional dishes and foods, and handicraft demonstrations that highlight the uniqueness of the handiwork of the Borneo people.
For fruits trader in Pekan Nabalu, Deulin Pengundar, 65, from Kampung Taginambur, Kota Belud, who had the opportunity to chat directly with the Queen, said he wanted to express his appreciation and gratitude to the Queen who understood the situation of the Dusun people doing small businesses as the source of livelihood.
“I am happy with the Raja Permaisuri Agong because not only can I talk but also dance and have time to tease because I am easily startled,” he said, not realising what he was saying (while melatah), and after that, there was a feeling of embarrassment.
He also prayed that Allah SWT would bless the big family of the King and bless their health.
In addition, he prayed that Allah SWT would bless Tuanku Agong as the King so that he could govern the country carefully and peacefully without discriminating against ethnicity, race or religion.
Likewise, Nor Alia Nur Alya Adriana Azharuddin, 14, from Kota Kinabalu, sketched a picture of the King during Tuanku Agong’s tour to Sabah.
As she could not meet His Majesty because of the school session, she asked her mother to hand over the drawing to the King at Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association Sabah (KDCA) in Penampang.
Due to the crowd, her mother was unable to meet the King.
However, her mother had handed the painting to the King’s bodyguard.
It was another story with a pair of siblings, Arcella and Adeline Jamit from Penampang, who managed to hand over a portrait of Tuanku of their creation after overcoming several obstacles and managed to hand over the special portrait to Tuanku’s son, Tengku Muhammad Iskandar Ri’ayatuddin Shah.
His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong contributed a lot of services in shaping the country’s leadership, empowering education, disseminating knowledge and religion as well as his concern for the fate of the people, especially in the interiors.
In fact, Their Majesties were also moved by the warm hospitality of the community who patiently waited along the way just to meet the caring monarch.
The historic entourage involving more than 2,154 km via the Pan Borneo Highway that connects Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei gave the people of both states an opportunity to meet and greet the royal couple.
In addition, cultural activities such as traditional dances, musical performances, and singing entertained the royal couple, and all the people swamped the stopovers, which were greeted with various behaviours and creativities simply to show their unwavering love.
UMPSA also had the opportunity to join the convoy and gain experience from the people throughout the programme.
By: Mimi Rabita Haji Abdul Wahit, Centre for Corporate Communications
