KUANTAN: Thousands have gathered at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base here to welcome Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who officially ends his five-year reign as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today.
Al-Sultan Abdullah, also the Sultan of Pahang, along with Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah will be given a royal ceremonial welcome at the air base here where their plane is scheduled to land around 11.40am.
The crowd inside the air base including politicians and schoolchildren had gathered as early as 9am, and many were seen carrying the mini Jalur Gemilang and Pahang flags as they made their way towards the canopies setup near the tarmac.
Outside the air base, hundreds of people lined up along the 20km main road between the air base and Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Silver Jubilee Hall hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal motorcade when it passed the stretch.
Yellow banners welcoming the royal couple home have been put up along the main roads from the air base to the hall along Jalan Teluk Sisek including several other main roads in the state capital.
Upon his arrival at the air base from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Al-Sultan Abdullah will inspect the guard of honour before later attending a lunch reception at the
Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Silver Jubilee Hall.
Al-Sultan Abdullah took the oath of office as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 31, 2019.
He will be replaced by the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, who has been elected as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong for five years starting tomorrow(Jan 31).