“When the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem officiated the start of the Pan Borneo Highway, I remembered he wanted it to be toll-free. “Therefore, as his successor, I will ensure his aspiration would be upheld’- Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
If the rest of the world does not know about the Pan Borneo Highway, the road network on Borneo Island connecting two Malaysian states, Sabah and Sarawak with Brunei, now they do. This is thanks to the Kembara Kenali Borneo Tour being undertaken by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
The tour, which began on Sept 3 in Tawau, Sabah, will end in Telok Melano, Lundu, in southern Sarawak on Sept 13. It fulfills the dream of their Majesties to get closer to the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
After concluding its journey in Sabah last Thursday (Sept 7), the Kembara Kenali Borneo Tour entourage stopped over in Lawas before continuing its journey to Brunei.
After reaching Lawas via the Merapok Immigration, Customs and Quarantine (ICQ) Complex on Thursday night, it immediately proceeded to the Lawas Waterfront. There, their Majesties spent half an hour with the local folk.
Lawas was the first location in Sarawak to be visited by the royal convoy. On hand to welcome their Majesties who were accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof were acting Head of State Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar and Deputy Premier Datuk AmarAwang Tengah Ali Hasan.
In Brunei, our King and Queen were welcomed by the Crown Prince of Brunei, Pengiran Muda Mahkota Al-Muhtadee Billah Ibni Sultan Hassanal Bokiah and his wife.
On Friday night, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong attended a dinner reception hosted by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his wife.
Yesterday, our King and Queen continued their Kembara Kenali Borneo journey to Miri City.
Everywhere they went, in Sabah as well as in Sarawak, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and his wife were warmly welcomed by huge crowds who were eager to see them in person and shake their hands.
For days now, newspapers and the TV stations in Malaysia have been reporting about their Majesties’ trip and the routes they were taking.
Yesterday, several celebration events were held in Miri in their honour. The Kembara Kenali Borneo convoy will move on to Bekenu and Bintulu today. On Sept 12, it will be in Sibu.
Because the Raja Permaisuri Agong wishes to see handicrafts made by locals, the royal couple has been visiting handicraft centres in Penampang, Sabah and in Miri.
Now that the Queen has made her wishes known, more visits to handicraft centres in other parts of Sarawak will certainly be on the itinerary for their Majesties.
Meanwhile, a post on the Istana Negara Instagram account yesterday shared a video clip showing the Queen in tears.
She cried because she was moved to tears by the warm welcome she and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong received during the final lap of their Kembara Kenali Borneo tour in Sabah.
She felt bad seeing how the people of Sabah were willing to wait for their arrival despite the heavy rain during the royal couple’s journey from Kota Kinabalu to Sepitang.
In the 40-second video clip, the Queen said, “Sabah is crying, I am also crying, the people are crying, the sky is crying but they are still out there in this heavy rain. I (am) already half wet because I wound down the (car) window.
“Thank you so much. Tuanku (Sultan Abdullah) and I will remember this for the rest of our lives. We are really sorry and we feel bad for the people who are waiting out there in the rain because we cannot go down and see them.
“Only Allah S.W.T can repay and Tuanku and I pray that everyone will not be sick, or will not get a fever after waiting in the rain for so long.”
It is so kind and sweet of the Queen to think of the people waiting in the rain for her and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Because of her caring personality and candid video clips like this, many Sarawakians have already fallen in love with her even before they get to see her or meet her in person.
I hope their Majesties will come up with a coffee table book on their Kembara Kenali Borneo at the end of their tour.
The book will make them recall their good times in Sarawak and Sabah while it will remind Sarawakians and Sabahans of one of the most friendly royal couples they have ever met.
The book will also promote Pan Borneo Highway as well as the beauty of Sarawak and Sabah to the whole wide world.
In the near future, I am sure many Malaysians will follow their Majesties’ footsteps by travelling the Pan Borneo Highway to reach Sabah and Brunei.
Already, my former classmates from St Elizabeth’s Convent School (now renamed SMK St Elizabeth) in Sibu are mulling a Pan Borneo Highway tour as our next reunion project. What say you?
Actually, I already have an invitation to go on a road trip to Miri, Lawas, Limbang and Brunei from Kuching.
One of my nephews, who has already done that, wants me to join him and his family on their next trip. Needless to say, I can’t wait to do that.
