KUALA LUMPUR: More needs to be done to reduce the disparity between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, said Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
His Majesty arrived at this conclusion following his extensive road trip through Sabah and Sarawak recently in what is known as the “Kembara Kenali Borneo” tour.
Sultan Abdullah said those on the peninsula should be grateful for all the basic infrastructure already in place.
“I am not trying to blame anyone but over there (Sabah and Sarawak)... we need to understand the size there, which is twice as large as the peninsula.
“Imagine building a road from village A to town A; the length may be double (compared to the peninsula), meaning the cost will double or even triple.
“I am very sympathetic (towards the situation) after hearing and seeing (it) for myself: longhouses abandoned near the highway, beautiful schools with no water, people crying out...there is no water for days there.
“We also have the same problem here. But there, they need it more,” said Sultan Abdullah in a special interview with the media in conjunction with the conclusion of his reign as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong today.
His Majesty added that financial considerations are most crucial while proper financial allocation is vital in ensuring that government projects are implemented efficiently without any wastage.
“Or else the people will be left behind. Monitoring the project and funds is important,” said His Majesty, who witnessed how a broken bridge affected the livelihoods of the locals.
“I saw it with my own eyes during my tour. At the time, I noticed a car on the other side and I asked how the car would cross to our side with that broken bridge.
“They explained that the car will have to wait for low tide in order to cross the river.
“Some have attempted to cross the river but they will get stuck.
“Thankfully, the Federal Government will build a new bridge costing RM13mil. God willing, a bridge will be built there,” added Sultan Abdullah.
The inaugural Borneo tour, which received an exceptional reception from the people of both states, involved a total of 2,154km of journey along the Pan Borneo Highway connecting Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.
The King also shared that the tour, which stretched between Sept 3 and 13, was initially scheduled and was proposed in the earlier part of His Majesty’s reign, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic that hit the country two years ago, it had to be postponed.
“I discussed this with the Queen, expressing my desire to tour Sabah and Sarawak perhaps within the five-year period.
“Throughout my life, having been involved in football, I only visited Kota Kinabalu and Kuching and never ventured beyond that.
“It occurred to me: why didn’t I explore beyond Kota Kinabalu and Kuching? And that became my desire – to see the conditions beyond those cities.
“There was no other objective; I simply wanted to witness the beauty beyond Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, to observe the people and villages, different ethnicities, their food, and how they communicate. I admit it was one of the sweetest experiences... memories that will last a lifetime,” added Tuanku.
Recalling it as one of the most memorable parts of His Majesty’s life, Sultan Abdullah admitted feeling sentimental when thinking about the tour.
“Sometimes, when I’m not doing anything late at night, I will watch the footage and shed tears. I feel deeply sentimental remembering the unexpected and overwhelming warm reception, and I feel extremely grateful,” added Sultan Abdullah.
“It was truly unexpected; we are planning to go back there again some day.
“Most of them came from far away; their journey took five to six hours.
“They waited for us for another five to six hours with children and grandchildren; some were even in wheelchairs. That was overwhelming,” said His Majesty.
Meanwhile, Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah was also surprised by the warm welcome Their Majesties received from the start until the end of the tour.
“During our journey, when we stopped, some of the villagers gave us mineral water, fearing and thinking that His Majesty (the King) might be thirsty... they (also) gave us food. They were worried that His Majesty did not have time to eat. They gave us rambutan; some gave us fruits.”
Their Majesties also informed that they agreed to adopt a child suffering from congenital generalised hypertrichosis syndrome.
“We will take care of her, and most importantly, we want to find medicine and perhaps find ways to treat her illness,” added the Raja Permaisuri Agong.
