ISTANBUL: Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, has arrived in Istanbul, Turkiye, in conjunction with a three-day special visit.
Her Majesty was accompanied by the Tunku Temenggong of Johor Tunku Idris Iskandar Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Panglima of Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim and Tunku Putera of Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim.
The private aircraft carrying the royal entourage arrived at Istanbul Airport at 6.10pm local time (11.10pm Malaysian time) and was received by Turkiye's Deputy Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mehmet Zahid Uzun, and Deputy Governor of Istanbul, Mustafa Kaya.
Also present were Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Malaysia's Consul General in Istanbul Ahmad Amiri Abu Bakar, Istana Negara Grand Chamberlain Datuk Azuan Effendy Zairakithnaini and Comptroller of the Royal Household of Johor Colonel (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Perang Musa.
During the visit, Raja Zarith Sofiah is scheduled to attend the Naming and Launching Ceremony of a Royal Malaysian Navy ship on Sunday (May 24) at the Istanbul Shipyard.
The Queen departed for Turkiye from the Royal Hangar at Senai International Airport, Johor, on Saturday (May 23) morning. – Bernama
