SEPANG, Sept 2 – The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Hajah Haminah, left today for a three-day state visit to Thailand.
The aircraft carrying Their Majesties departed at 10.15 am from the KL International Airport here.
Their Majesties were seen off by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman; Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.
Before boarding the aircraft, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by four officers and 103 men of the 1st Battalion Royal Malay Regiment as a 21-gun salute was fired. The national anthem ‘Negaraku’ was also played.
Tuanku Abdul Halim’s visit to Thailand is the third to an Asean country, after having visited Indonesia and Brunei last year, following his installation as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the second time on April 11 last year.
The visit of Tuanku Abdul Halim and Tuanku Hajah Haminah is aimed at strengthening the existing relations and cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Raja Permaisuri Agong will be bestowed the highest honours by King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Klai Kangwon Palace in Hua Hin.
Tuanku Abdul Halim is scheduled to grant an audience to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and be presented with the Key to the City of Bangkok by the city’s governor, Sukhumbhand Paribatra.
Their Majesties are also scheduled to visit several places, including an exhibition at Ananta Samakhom and the Chakri Mahaprasad or Grand Palace.
In a separate programme, Tuanku Hajah Haminah will visit the Red Cross Children’s Home in Bangkok.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom is accompanying Their Majesties as the minister-in-attendance.
– BERNAMA
