An unusual buzz of excitement filled the air in Tawau town this morning as the people waited for the arrival of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah at 0KM Padang Perbandaran Tawau here, where Their Majesties set off on the Kembara Kenali Borneo tour.
The King, who drove a four-wheel-drive vehicle himself, led the 25-vehicle convoy, which was flagged off by Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin at 8.30 am.
Also participating in the programme involving a distance of 2,154 kilometres via the Pan Borneo Highway are Their Majesties’ children Tengku Arif Bendahara Tengku Muhammad Iskandar Ri’ayatuddin Shah, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah ‘Athiyatullah, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Ilisha Ameera and Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Ilyana.
The town had a festival-like atmosphere as locals turned up en masse to catch a glimpse of the royal couple and their entourage.
Rain did not deter local residents from gathering and waiting at the roadsides along the routes the Kembara Kenali Borneo convoy will take since early in the morning.
Members of Selawat groups and kompang associations as well as trainee nurses from the Ministry of Health’s nursing college and school students gave Their Majesties’ convoy a resounding farewell as the crowds proudly waved the Jalur Gemilang and the Sabah flags.
The rakyat’s enthusiasm at the Kembara Kenali Borneo was clearly evident when thousands of school students, teachers and local residents were seen standing by the roadside as the convoy headed for Lahad Datu, about 171.1 km from Tawau.
Earlier, Sabah Mufti Datuk Bungsu @ Aziz Jaafar led the recitation of prayers for the safety and well-being of Their Majesties and the convoy participants.
Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah also posed for a commemorative photo at the 0 km Roundabout, a significant landmark representing the original point of establishment of the public administrative centre in Tawau Town that serves as a distance marker to other destinations in the town.
Also present at the convoy flagging off ceremony were Yang Dipertua Negeri’s wife Toh Puan Norlidah Tan Sri R.M Jasni, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Sabah State Assembly speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim Yahya and state cabinet ministers.
Kembara Kenali Borneo, which will end in Telok Melano, Sarawak on Sept 13 across the Pan Borneo Highway that connects Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei, provides a golden opportunity for the people of both states to meet the royal couple and their entourage.
The convoy will first stop at Menara Kayangan, an observation tower built on Mount Silam, 884 metres above sea level, about 11 km from Lahad Datu town.
Prior to touring Menara Kayangan, Their Majesties will be given a briefing by the Sabah Forestry Department about the tower and its surrounding nature.
Located in the Sapagaya Forest Reserve, the 30-metre-tall Menara Kayangan, also known as the ‘Tower of Heaven’ by locals and foreign tourists, was opened to the public in April 2012.
In addition to enjoying the beauty of Mount Silam’s flora and fauna, the tower also gives visitors a perfect scenic bird’s eye view of Teluk Darvel and a breathtakingly beautiful panorama of a lush forest.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency