KUANTAN: Today signifies an important day for the people in Pahang as they welcomed home the outgoing king, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who is also the ruler of Pahang.
Thousands of people braved the afternoon sun as they excitedly welcomed Al-Sultan Abdullah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base here today.
Al-Sultan Abdullah officially ends his five-year reign as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong today after taking the oath of office on Jan 31, 2019.
Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has been elected as the 17th king starting tomorrow (Jan 31).
The special aircraft ferrying Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah arrived at the air force base at 11.55am.
Clad in a yellow baju melayu, Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah went on board the aircraft to greet to royal couple.
Seconds later, the sultan, who wore a black baju melayu intricately woven with gold thread, along with a gold-coloured tanjak, and his consort, in mint green baju kurung, emerged and waved towards the crowd.
They greeted other members of the royal family and walked towards the stage, some 150m from the aircraft.
The entourage was accompanied by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, as the minister in attendance.
Once the royal couple arrived at their canopy, the national anthem "Negaraku" and state anthem "Allah Selamatkan Sultan Kami" was played by the RMAF band, accompanied by 21-cannon shots from the military.
Al-Sultan Abdullah then inspected the guard of honour, consisting of 103 members and four officers from the RMAF.
A prayer was then recited by state mufti Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Osman.
The national anthem and state anthem were played once again before the king and queen shook hands with the attendees, which included politicians, schoolchildren and other members of the public.
The royal couple and Tengku Hassanal happily obliged for selfies and autographs before departing for an official reception at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Silver Jubilee Hall near here.
Outside the air base, members of the public had gathered along the 20km road between the air base and the hall.
They waved the Jalur Gemilang and Pahang flags as the royal motorcade passed along the stretch.