KUALA LUMPUR: The King and Queen graced the parade by the Armed Forces to proclaim thanks to His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah who is ending his reign as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVI.
The ceremony symbolises the Armed Forces’ appreciation to the King, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah at the end of their official five-year reign as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong from 2019 to 2024.
Their Majesties arrived at the Perdana Camp, Sungai Besi, at 9.30am yesterday, and were greeted with the “Hormat Diraja”, followed by the national anthem.
Five helicopters performed an overhead flypast, bearing the Jalur Gemilang, Armed Forces, 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 Armed Forces hold a grand parade to express gratitude to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah. The ceremony is held to mark the five-year reign of the King and Queen. The Sultan of Johor will succeed the throne on Jan 31. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
The King then inspected the guard of honour on an inspection vehicle. Tuanku then proceeded to deliver the royal speech.
Also present were the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, and Armed Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman.
Their Majesties and the VVIPs were treated with a special performance.
The final part of the ceremony 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 Their Majesties.
Sultan Abdullah’s reign as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong ends on Jan 30, and the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, will succeed him.
