King and Queen attend Trooping the Colour ceremony

Pledge of allegiance: The five MAF aircraft performing the flypast at Dataran Pahlawan Negara in Putrajaya. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah attended the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Dataran Pahlawan Negara here.

The arrival of the royal couple at the venue at 8.30am yesterday was greeted with the national anthem and a 21-gun salute by the 41st Ceremonial Battery of the Royal Artillery Regiment led by Lt-Kol Mohammad Asri Che Wil.

At the same time, five Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) aircraft bearing the Jalur Gemilang as well as the flags of the MAF, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Navy and Army performed a flypast overhead, led by Mejar Mohd Husni Mohd Tarmizi.

Sultan Abdullah then inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 57 officers and 862 personnel from the three MAF wings led by the commanding officer of the 12th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment, Lt-Kol Mohd Azamri Abdullah.

Accompanying the march was a medley of patriotic songs played by the MAF central band led by Lt-Kol Muhamad Nor Azizan Yahya.

Then, the MAF central band led the Trooping the Colour of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in both the slow and quick-march tempo.

Five colours were paraded at the ceremony, namely those of the Royal Malay Regiment, Royal Ranger Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Malaysian Navy and Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Trooping the Colour is a demonstration of respect, honour and ceremonial pledge of allegiance by the three services of the armed forces to the King and country.

The ceremony ended with three hails of “Daulat Tuanku!” by the guard-of-honour. This was followed by a recitation of the doa (prayers).

Sultan Abdullah then took the royal salute again as the five MAF aircraft performed another flypast. Their Majesties left at 9.30am.

The one-hour ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

The ceremony is held three times during the five-year reign for each Malay Ruler who is appointed as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, namely the first, third and fifth years. — Bernama