King attends RMAF 64th Anniversary Parade

PETALING JAYA: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah attended the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) 64th Anniversary Parade at the Subang Air Force Base, near here today.

Their Majesties were greeted upon arrival at 9am by Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang, RMAF chief Datuk Seri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan and his deputy Lt Gen Datuk Mohammad Salleh Osman.

The Negaraku national anthem and the Perwira Di Angkasa song were played by the RMAF combined band before the King and Queen received the royal salute and a flypast by five helicopters bearing the Jalur Gemilang national flag as well as the flags of the Malaysian Armed Forces and RMAF.

His Majesty then inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 23 officers and 420 personnel from other ranks, led by Lt Col Hassan Basri Tajul Ariffin.

The trooping of the colours of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong then followed, performing a march past in slow and quick march tempo.

RMAF aircraft such as Sukhoi Su-30MKM, BAE Hawk, F/A-18D Hornet, A400M, PC-7 MKII, as well as helicopters - EC 725 AP and AW 139 made a flypast.

Al-Sultan Abdullah then delivered his Royal Address in conjunction with the RMAF's 64th anniversary celebration themed 'Kuasa Udara, Perisai Kedaulatan Negara'.

The ceremony which lasted almost an hour ended with a royal banquet which was also attended by 2,000 guests including former RMAF commanders, defence advisors, embassy representatives as well as RMAF personnel.

-- BERNAMA