King urges Sabah: Grow more food
Published on: Wednesday, September 06, 2023
The Agong with pygmy elephant at Sepilok.
LAHAD DATU: Fertile soil in Lahad Datu and Tawau must be maximised by increasing farming activities that can improve the economic status of the people decreed Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
Al-Sultan Abdullah was overwhelmed by the scenic views and expressed his appreciation for the beauty and the many types of crops planted throughout the journey of the ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’ expedition from Tawau to Lahad Datu.
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“Ladies and gentlemen, I personally saw various crops planted all along the way, like palm oil, papaya, tapioca, lanzones (langsat), duku, durian and rambutans. More crops need to be planted and such crops sold at reasonable prices.
Orang Utans at the centre.
“I am grateful to be able to enjoy local durian which taste better than Musang King. These local durian must be planted in bigger quantities and exported to other countries,” decreed Al-Sultan Abdullah during a function with the people at Dewan Perdana, here Tuesday
Al-Sultan Abdullah also apologised for his late arrival for the dinner but added that it was not intentional but because he had to meet and greet the people who have lined up all along the way from Tawau to Dewan Perdana here.
“Thank you all who have waited for my arrival since morning and would like to apologise for the delay. The entire entourage too did not have anything to eat throughout the journey but were only able to drink water,” said Al-Sultan Abdullah.
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“Since people were standing all along the road, I was overwhelmed, had to slow down, stop, drive slowly again and stop again. The response and reception from the people in Tawau and Lahad Datu was the same,” said Al-Sultan Abdullah.
The Royal couple set out to join the ‘Kembara Kenali Borneo’ at 8.30 am in Tawau before arriving at the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) at 4.20pm and reaching Dewan Perdana at 6.05pm.
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Also joining the “Kembara Kenali Borneo” which covers a distance of 2,154 kilometres throughout the Pan Borneo Highway are Tengku Arif Bendahara Tengku Muhammad Iskandar Ri’ayatuddin Shah, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah ‘Athiyatullah, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Ilisha Ameera and Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Ilyana.
The Kembara Kenali Borneo from Sept 3 to 13, starting in Tawau, Sabah and ending in Telok Melano, Sarawak, will record a historic moment and unique experience of a host of programmes rich in customs, culture and tribal handicrafts scheduled with the people, according to the Royal couple’s wishes.
In SANDAKAN, the royal entourage made its first stop at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, which is located about 25km from town.
The centre is renowned worldwide as a sanctuary and conservation centre for the endangered orangutan species.
At the centre, Their Majesties fed a Borneoan pygmy elephant calf named ‘Taburi’, while a young orangutan received the honour of being named ‘Didi’ by Tunku Azizah.
The royal couple then signed a name plaque for the orangutan. The King and Queen also interacted with the playful and slightly mischievous Didi and Taburi.
Meanwhile, Istana Negara advised the public to always stay on the roadside and avoid crossing the road when the Kembara Kenali Borneo convoy passes through to prevent untoward incidents.
It also advised the public not to inconvenience themselves waiting for the convoy, especially with young children, until late at night.
“Local authorities are urged to take effective control measures to ensure the safety of the public on the roadside,” it said in a posting on Facebook.
The expedition will cover a distance 2,154 kilometres through the Pan Borneo Highway which connects Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.
Their Majesties’ children, Tengku Arif Bendahara Tengku Muhammad Iskandar Ri’ayatuddin Shah, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah ‘Athiyatullah, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Ilisha Ameera and Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Ilyana are also part of the convoy.
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