KUANTAN: A group of primary school pupils cheered loudly as outgoing Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah waved and approached them at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base here today.
A group of boys from SK St Thomas whipped out pens and notebooks to get autographs from the sultan of Pahang.
They also got autographs from Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who was at the welcoming event marking the end of the king's five-year reign as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong today.
Muhammad Arif Jaman Mohamed, Harith Danish Hafizul Rahman, K. Ruthaan Hendry and Yeo Zhong Han, all 11, were brimming with joy after getting the royal autographs and were eagerly sharing them with their friends and teachers.
Arif said they were very excited to have the rare opportunity to meet Al-Sultan Abdullah, Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and Tengku Hassanal up close.
"At first, we only wanted to greet and shake hands with the king. But the royal family was so friendly, so we decided to get their autographs.
"Our teachers took pictures so that we will have a lot of memories of this special day.
"I will write today's date on the autographed page. I might laminate or frame the autographs.
"This is special as not everyone can get such an opportunity. We are very proud to be able to attend such a historic event."
Ruthaan said his teacher informed the pupils about the trip to the air base to welcome the king yesterday and they were reminded to be at school early to board the chartered bus.
"My teacher keeps telling us that we are lucky to be chosen to go to the air base to welcome the king. There was a lot of protocol, which I've only seen on TV."
The pupils were among thousands of people from all walks of life who turned up at the air force base today to welcome Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah.
Clerk Zubaidah Johari, 43, said she, her husband and three children travelled from Peramu, Pekan, at 8am to attend the event.
"We arrived early and found parking near the air base.
"Although the event was aired live on TV, I wanted to bring my children to witness it.
"My daughter has read about the king and sultans in her history textbook and I have explained the country's system to her.
"But attending an event like this will provide a better understanding. It is good that schools made an effort to bring students here."
Armed with a camera, trader See Kim Seng, 50, said the rare chance to allow members of the public to enter the air base allowed them to capture pictures and videos of the special moment in the state's history.
