SEMATAN, Sept 13 — The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah was today briefed on the background and status of the implementation of the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway Project (LPB), which has now achieved 97 per cent progress.

The briefing was conducted by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi when His Majesty visited the Sarawak LPB Project exhibition at Telok Melano here, which is the last stopover in His Majesty’s Kembara Kenali Borneo Tour.

The Works Ministry (KKR), in a statement, said the first-ever eld Kembara Kenali Borneo Tour, which is inspired by Al-Sultan Abdullah himself, reflected His Majesty’s concern in the government’s efforts to improve road infrastructure in Sarawak.

It is to serve as the catalyst for socioeconomic and industrial development, as well as to improve the comfort and safety of road users in particular, read the statement, which also stated the ministry’s gratitude to His Majesty for visiting the exhibition site of the project.

"Kembara Kenali Borneo”, which was held for the first time to realise the dream of Al-Sultan Abdullah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah to reach out to the people of Sabah and Sarawak, ended in Sabah on September 7 before entering Sarawak via Brunei.

Al-Sultan Abdullah, who drove a four-wheel drive vehicle and was accompanied by Tunku Azizah travelled a distance of 2,154 kilometres along the Pan Borneo Highway that connects Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.

Also in the royal entourage on the Sarawak tour were Their Majesties’ children, the Regent of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, Tengku Panglima Raja Colonel Tengku Amir Nasser Ibrahim Shah and Tengku Ahmad Ismail Mu’adzam Shah

Their Majesties’ four other children Tengku Arif Bandahara Tengku Muhammad Iskandar Ri’ayatuddin Shah, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah ‘Athiyatullah, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Ilisha Ameera and Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Ilyana were in the entourage during the Sabah tour. — Bernama