ALOR SETAR: Mohd Ibrahim Mohd Yusoff, 74, and wife Intan Salamah Mahyuddin, 80, refused to let their age deter them from witnessing Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah and Sultanah Maliha Tengku Ariff went on a historic parade in the ‘Bahtera Layang Emas’.
Arriving at the Dataran Medan Bandar 6.30am today, the elderly couple walked for two kilometres, as a show of love for the royal couple, along with some 50,000 thousand others at the ceremony, which is part of the events leading up to the installation of the 29th Sultan of Kedah on Monday.
From Dataran Medan Bandar, Mohd Ibrahim and his family saw Sultan Sallehuddin and Sultanah Maliha smiling and waving at the crowd throughout the 3.2km route on Bahtera Layang Emas with six main stops.
Mohd Ibrahim said he left his house in Simpang Kuala after Subuh prayer as they did not want to miss the opportunity to witness the historic spectacle last seen on Feb 20, 1959, when Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah was installed as the Sultan of Kedah.
Mohd Ibrahim, who suffered from heart illness and cologne cancer, said he was overcame with pride and joy that he almost forgot about his sickly condition.
He said it was the first time he witnessed the parade as he had missed the one in 1959.
“My family and I came here by car which was parked quite a distance away from the square due to congestion. However, I don’t feel tired at all, despite having walked this far, ” he told reporters when met.
Meanwhile, Intan Salamah said she was elated to join other Kedahans in the ceremony despite having her arm bandaged due to an accident at home two weeks ago.
“As a Kedahan, I felt compelled to join others here today and I am overjoyed to witness the ceremony for the first time in my life,” she said.
The Bahtera Layang Emas, a royal carriage in the shape of a golden boat, was accompanied by the Sultan Abdul Hamid College band and preceded by 10 horsemen in ceremonial attire from the Royal Malaysian Police mounted unit.