Works Minister presents King and Queen with special photo book immortalising visit to Rh Raymond Plen

The King and Queen browsing through the photograph book containing sweet memories of their visit to Rh TR Raymond Plen in Sg Gelam. The book was presented to their Majesties by Nanta (left) and his wife Angelina (right) at Istana Negara on Jan 23, 2024. Photo credit: Alexander Nanta Linggi Facebook page

KUCHING, Jan 24: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah were presented with a special photograph book immortalising their visit to Raymond Plen longhouse in Sungai Gelam, Sebauh, Bintulu.

Minister of Works Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi and his wife Datin Sri Angelina Celestine Ujang presented the book to the King and Queen during an investiture ceremony to confer federal awards, honours and medals held at the Istana Negara yesterday (Jan 23).

Nanta emphasised that that the Royal Couple’s visit to Sarawak as part of the ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’ road tour left a profound impression not only on the people of Sarawak but also on the King and Queen themselves.

“Among the sweet memories is a visit to Rumah Panjai (longhouse) TR Raymond Plen in Sg Gelam, Sebauh of Bintulu.

“It is our pleasure that that the King and Queen accepted the gift. Hopefully, this gesture of love would remain etched in their memories as much as it will be in the hearts of Sarawakians,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday (Jan 23).

Nanta (left) and Angelina (right) in a photo with the King and Queen at Istana Negara on Jan 23, 2024. Photo credit: Alexander Nanta Linggi Facebook page

Their Majesties accompanied by their 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, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Ilyana, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, Tengku Panglima Raja Colonel Tengku Amir Nasser Ibrahim Shah and Tengku Ahmad Ismail Mu’adzam Shah embarked on the inaugural Kembara Kenali Borneo road trip in September last year.

Covering 2,154 kilometres from Tawau, Sabah to Telok Melano, Sarawak, the royal family received an extraordinary warm reception from the people of Borneo, with thousands lining the streets at various stops to welcome and meet the royal couple known for their humility.

During the journey, the King and Queen embraced endearing monikers like ‘Pak Cik Agong’, ‘Abang Agong’ and ‘Gong Gong Gong’, joined in traditional dances, took wefies, serenade Sibu folk with ‘Pesanan Buat Kekasih’ and ‘Gurindam Jiwa’ songs, set foot in the 53-door Rh Raymond Plen in Sebauh, stopped by the roadside to eat ‘nasi bungkus’, proudly proclaimed Tengku Hassanal is still single, and helped a teacher in Betong to name her future child.

‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’ was a historic event, marking the first time the King and Queen fulfilled their dream to traverse the Pan Borneo Highway and connect with the communities in Sabah and Sarawak.

The 11-day trip commenced in Tawau, Sabah on Sept 3, 2023 and concluded in Telok Melano, Sarawak on Sept 13, 2023.

At the trip’s conclusion, the Agong expressed that the memories and the people will forever hold a special place in his heart. — DayakDaily