Comprehensive media coverage, showcases uniqueness of country's constitutional monarchy system - Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR: The media coverage of all events for the ceremonial send-off of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah was comprehensive and very good, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

He said the coverage by mainstream and alternative media, as well as the use of social media platforms, helped showcase the uniqueness of the ceremonies and the Constitutional Monarchy system practised in the country.

He said the role of the media is important to widely disseminate important and historic events to the world.

"I am very satisfied and impressed by the efforts of our media partners to cover the ceremonial sending off of the(16th) Yang di-Pertuan Agong.. we celebrate the Constitutional Monarchy system.

"I believe we (the media) succeeded in playing our respective roles in the mainstream and alternative media, and we even saw various content on social media (regarding the sending off ceremony) ... well done and thank you media," he told Bernama at Parliament Square today.

He said this when met after the sending-off ceremony to mark the end of the reign of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

Earlier, Al-Sultan Abdullah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah went to Parliament Square for the official send-off ceremony.

The royal couple was greeted on arrival by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as well as Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof with their respective spouses.

Also present to pay respects to Their Majesties at the ceremony were Members of Parliament and the Senate, as well as members of the foreign diplomatic corps.

Meanwhile, France Ambassador to Malaysia Axel Cruau described the sending-off ceremony held for Al-Sultan Abdullah as "a grand ceremony with a lot of grandeur and emotion".

"It was so great to see such a ceremony for the King (Al-Sultan Abdullah), a great king who did a lot for Malaysia and also the French-Malaysian relationship.

"It was so nice of him to also greet us and exchange a few words, and we hope to see him again in France as a Sultan. And now we are waiting for the next king to come and we are eager to meet him and work with him for the benefit of the country," he said to Bernama when met after the ceremony.

The sending-off ceremony of Their Majesties, steep in Malay traditions and customs symbolising the uniqueness of the royal institution in the country, was held at several locations, starting from Istana Negara, Parliament Square and Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah boarded a plane back to Pahang.

Al-Sultan Abdullah ended his reign as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong today and 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.

-- BERNAMA

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