GRAND WELCOME FOR SULTAN BRUNEI
KOTA KINABALU:
His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei Sir Hassanal Bolkiah and his Royal entourage were given a grand welcome on their arrival here yesterday morning.
A special aircraft carrying His Majesty and the Royal entourage touched down at the Terminal Two of the International Airport in Tanjung Aru 11.05am
Bouquets of flowers greeted the Brunei Queen, Raja Isteri Saleha Pengiran Pemancha, as the Brunei Royal visitors were warmly welcomed by the Head of State Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah and his wife Toh Puan Dayang Masuyah Awang Japar; Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and wife Datin Seri Faridah Tussin as well as State Cabinet Members and other dignitaries.
The Brunei national anthem was played followed by Negaraku and Sabah Tanah Airku, before Sultan Hassanal inspected a guard of honour mounted in His Majesty’s honour by three officers and 102 strong personnel of the Seventh Battalion Malay Royal regiment, led by Major Mohd Yazid Yaacob.
Outside the Airport, schoolchildren and well wishers, some dressed in traditional waited patiently by the roadside with Malaysian and Brunei flags in their hands, hoping to catch a glimpse of the royalties, who are on their 3 day official visit to Sabah.
Even local Bruneians were seen carrying the gabus, a traditional Bruneian guitar-like instrument, to welcome the Brunei royals. At 3.00pm the same day, Sultan Hassanal was briefed on the State development, namely on the tourism sector and the implementation of the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) at the multi-vision hail of Menara Tun Mustapha, and later attended a high tea reception at the revolving restaurant at the same complex.
The State Government later hosted a banquet for Sultan Hassanal and his delegation at the Bangkuasi hall of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly, where Tun Ahmadshah and wife, Musa and wife, and other members of the State Cabinet, local and foreign dignitaries as well as heads of State and Federal Departments were present.
Sultan Hassanal is scheduled to visit Malaysia’s second largest naval base at the Sepanggar Bay this morning followed by a tour to the 1Borneo Hypermall in the afternoon, before departing for Sandakan from the Terminal Two.
He will be welcomed on arrival at the Sandakan Airport by Tun Ahmadshah, Datuk Musa and local dignitaries. The Sultan will be joining the people of Sandakan in a dinner reception at the Libaran multi-purpose hall later in the evening.
Sultan Hassanal will be touring the Rainforest Discovery Centre at Sepilok tomorrow, and fly back to Brunei from the Sandakan Airport later in the afternoon.
