His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah and Her Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Hajah Azizah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Al-Marhum Al-Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj and members of the Malaysian royal family received a warm welcome by both Bruneian and Malaysian residents in the Belait District yesterday morning.
Among the hotspots that saw a number of residents gather was near the Rasau Bridge where the delegates were welcomed with the Brunei and Malaysia national flags as well as greetings from the residents.
Wheelchair-bound Mahmud bin Muhammad, an elderly local from Panaga who greeted the royal couple with his family, said, “We waited around 45 minutes to meet with His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong. This is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion and would make a good memory alongside meeting His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.”
Another local, Suria binti Haji Othman, said she waited two hours with her friends and family to get the opportunity to meet with the royal couple.
“This is the first time that the Malaysian royal couple have visited Brunei using the land route.
Since it’s a weekend and we live nearby, we took the opportunity to greet them.” She also shared that she has Malaysian ancestry and has family in Malaysia, thus proud to be part of the unique occasion.
Having been greeted by the Belait residents, the Royal couple then made their way to the Sungai Tujoh Control Post where they were greeted by officers, before continuing their visit as part of the ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’ tour from September 3 to 13.
The tour covers a distance of 2,154 kilometres along the Pan Borneo Highway. – Daniel Lim
