LIPIS: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said he appeared stiff when he read the news on television last night.
He said unlike his consort, Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, who was calmer when the royal couple presented a special Royal Bulletin segment on TV3's Buletin Utama, he could not pull off a calm demeanour when they were on camera.
The king and queen had visited Media Prima's newsroom in Sri Pentas, Bandar Utama, and had accepted an invitation to deliver a special slot in the primetime news programme.
Al-Sultan Abdullah, who is also the sultan of Pahang, said he seemed "kaku" (stiff) in front of the camera. However, he said Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah was more relaxed.
"I feel delivering a speech is easier than reading the news. When reading yesterday, I was 'begitu kaku' (very stiff), the Permaisuri appeared relaxed....maybe she had practised many times," he said when speaking at the proclamation of Lipis as a National Geopark at Taman Negara Sungai Relau here today.
Members of the audience were tickled when the king related his experience of reading the TV news.
Explaining further, the king said many people are unaware that the studio where he delivered the news with the queen was extremely cold.
"Maybe those who don't know (do not believe me) can visit the TV3 news room," he said.
Yesterday, the royal couple visited Media Prima Bhd Group's headquarters, Sri Pentas before presenting the news in a special recorded session which was aired exclusively on TV3's Buletin Utama last night. They had delivered three news items during a 13-minute slot.
Meanwhile, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, in his speech at the event said the online announcement earlier yesterday about the king and queen delivering the news had created a lot of excitement.
"Many were talking about it the entire day and people were rushing to get home in time to be in front of the television to watch the special slot. Viewers were thrilled to watch the king and queen presenting the news on television," he said.