King wants Armed Forces to be strengthened, safeguard country's sovereignty

KUALA LUMPUR, 8 Jan -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah berkenan bertitah pada Istiadat Perbarisan Menjunjung Kasih Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVI di Dataran Panglima Tentera Darat Kem Perdana Sungai Besi hari ini. Istiadat berkenaan diadakan sebagai penghargaan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) terhadap Al-Sultan Abdullah sebagai Panglima Tertinggi ATM dan Tuanku Azizah atas tamat tempoh rasmi perkhidmatan baginda sebagai Yang di-Pertuan Agong ke-16 pada 30 Januari ini. -- fotoBERNAMA (2024) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has expressed his satisfaction with the various achievements and high accomplishments showcased by the Armed Forces.

Nevertheless, the King advised the top Armed Forces leadership to continue to enhance the aspects of control and governance, as well as professionalism, to ensure that the respected force remains steadfast as the core pillar of defence to the country.

"Moving forward, the Armed Forces must continue to be strengthened, in line with the nation's goals to shape a future force capable of safeguarding national sovereignty and at the same time addressing complex global geopolitical challenges," said His Majesty in his speech at the Perdana Camp, Sungai Besi here, on Monday (Jan 8).

The King and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah graced the parade by the Armed Forces to proclaim thanks to His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVI.

The royal couple was greeted with the "Hormat Diraja", followed by the national anthem.

Five helicopters performed an overhead flypast belonging to the Armed Forces, bearing the Jalur Gemilang, armed forces, Army, Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) flags headed by RMAF Squadron Number 10 Major Ahmad Farhan Ahmad, accompanied by a 21-artillery salute.

The King then inspected the guard of honour on an inspection vehicle.

His Majesty also delivered the royal speech before the recital of the doa (prayers).

Their Majesties and the VVIPs were treated with a special performance, including a slow march, march-past in different formations, poetry recital, presentation of montage video, and the marching out.

The ceremony symbolises the armed forces' appreciation to the King, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah at the end of their official five-year tenure as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong from 2019 to 2024.

The final phase was the departure to Wisma Perwira Tentera Darat to dine with the armed forces personnel before being sent off on a horse carriage with armed personnel lining the street as a symbol of respect to the Majesties.

Also present were The Regent of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, and Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman.

Al-Sultan Abdullah's tenure as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong ends on Jan 30, and the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, will succeed him.