Royal Farewell For Their Majesties
By Azrol Azmi and James Kon
Bandar Seri Begawan - After a fruitful three-day official visit, His Majesty Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah and Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah left Brunei Darussalam yesterday afternoon.
A royal farewell was held at the Cheradi Laila Kenchana room in the Istana Nurul Iman, where His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha and HRH Pengiran Isteri-Azrinaz Mazhar paid a courtesy call prior to the departure of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong.
Also present at the farewell were HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah the Crown Prince, HRH Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, HRH Pg Anak Isteri Pg Anak Hajah Zariah, HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah, HRH Prince Abdul Azim, HRH Prince Abdul Malik, HRH Prince Abdul Mateen, HRH Princess Hajah Masna and other members of the royal family.
The State Mufti recited a doa selamat before members of the Legislative Council and Cabinet ministers paid their respects to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong.
At the Brunei International Airport, HRH the Crown Prince, HRH Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, HRH Princess Hajah Masna and YAM Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz were present to wish the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong a safe and pleasant journey.
There was also a guard-of-honour static display performed by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
During the three-day official visit, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam fostered closer ties with the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, which in turn have strengthened the friendship of both nations. This is the first time that His Majesty Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah and Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah have visited Brunei Darussalam after his coronation as the 13th Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia this year.
-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin, 5 July 2007
