| King, Queen given warm S’wak welcome King, Queen given warm S’wak welcome KUCHING: Hundreds of people flocked to the Kuching International Airport (KIA) yesterday to welcome the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah on their arrival for a two-day official visit to the State.  | | ARRIVING: The King and Queen disembark from the aircraft at Kuching International Airport. - Photo by Davidson Kho | | This is the first visit to the State by Tuanku Mizan and Tuanku Nur Zahirah since Tuanku Mizan was installed as Malaysia’s 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on April 26. Their Majesties’ jet touched down at the airport tarmac at about 11am. Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and State Secretary Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot boarded the aircraft to invite the King and Queen to disembark. The royal couple was later received by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Norkiah. Also present were Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, the Chief Minister’s wife Datuk Amar Puan Sri Laila Taib, members of the State cabinet, heads of government departments, community leaders and other local dignitaries. People waving the Federal and State flags lined both sides of the red carpet to welcome Their Majesties. Many also carried banners with messages welcoming the King and Queen. There were also cultural performances of the various communities in the State. In the evening, the royal couple, accompanied by Salahuddin, Norkiah and Urban Development and Tourism Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, took a cruise on the Sarawak River from the Kuching Waterfront. Published by:
The Borneo Post
11 September 2007 | 
