PUTRAJAYA: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, on Friday (June 5) graced the Trooping of the Colours ceremony at Dataran Pahlawan Negara, here.
Upon His Majesty's arrival at 8.45am, the national anthem, Negaraku, was played, followed by a 21-gun salute.
Sultan Ibrahim then inspected a parade comprising 25 officers and 510 personnel from the three branches of the Armed Forces, led by the commanding officer of the Fifth Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment, Lt Col Azlan Shah Baharom.
The ceremony, which began at 7.50am, was held amid light rain and temperatures of about 26 degrees Celsius.
It also featured a combined performance by the MAF Central Band under the baton of Lt Col Muhamad Nor Azizan Yahya, with renditions of patriotic songs.
After His Majesty had inspected the guard of honour, the combined Armed Forces Central Band marched onto the parade ground, marking the commencement of the ceremonial trooping of the five Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Colours, conducted with full military honours.
The five Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Colours trooped during the ceremony were those of the Royal Malay Regiment, Royal Ranger Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Malaysian Navy and Royal Malaysian Air Force.
The Colours are a national honour conferred by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong upon regiments and corps of the army, navy and air force.
The ceremony concluded with members of the parade contingent chanting "Daulat Tuanku" three times, followed by a prayer led by Army Headquarters religious director-general Brig Gen Mohd Jihadi Ahmad.
His Majesty departed the ceremony at 9.40am.
Also present at the ceremony were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman.
The ceremony is held three times during the five-year reign of each Malay Ruler appointed as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong - in the first, third and final years of the reign.
It also serves as a manifestation of the armed forces' oath and pledge of undivided loyalty to the King and the nation. - Bernama
