Being part of the Kembara Mahkota Johor entourage is not an easy task.
Take it from Jamaluddin Jamil, the SAJ Holdings corporate communications head, who participated in the annual royal tour led by Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar for at least eight years.
Having bumped into Jamaluddin at a dinner during a Kembara stopover in Segamat, the first thing this writer noticed was the water utility company officer’s sunburnt face.
The weather in town was scorching hot. It was compounded by a massive traffic jam and huge crowd, who gathered to welcome the Johor Darul Ta’zim football club after its FA Cup victory in Shah Alam, Selangor.
Kembara Mahkota Johor is all about being outdoors. Jamaluddin was with one of the secretariat teams assigned to travel way ahead of Sultan Ibrahim’s entourage, informing everyone that the ruler would be stopping by their cities, towns or villages.
More importantly, Jamaluddin’s team was in charge of distributing souvenirs and memorabilia — all 200,000 of them — to Johor folk throughout the 842km journey over four days in this year’s tour.
Jamaluddin related his experience in meeting with the people across the length and breadth of Johor.
“You should have seen the look on their faces when we distributed the memorabilia.
“The children, the makcik-makcik and pakcik-pakcik (aunties and uncles). Some of them are so touched by the gesture that their faces lit up when they received flags, caps and scarves.
“We may think these souvenirs are not a big deal, but for them, it is a meaningful gesture,” he said.
At stopover events, Sultan Ibrahim and the rest of the royal family would take time to meet with their subjects.
No matter which remote corner of the state one may live in, the sultan will reach out and touch the hearts of his people. It is proof that he is very concerned about the wellbeing of his subjects.
Sultan Ibrahim also makes it a point to hear the problems that his people are facing, and will personally ensure that they are attended to by the state government, assemblymen and local authorities, who accompany him in his visits.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin described the gestures as the ruler’s personal touch. He said the tour has become a brand synonymous with Johor, and it was something that would continue to stand the test of time.
“God willing, such a brand (Kembara Mahkota Johor) will strengthen the constitutional monarchy in Johor and Malaysia,” he said at the closing of the tour last week.
Starting from 2001 and now in its 19th edition, the royal tour has become the most anticipated event in the state’s calendar.
It has strengthened the bond between the royal family and Bangsa Johor, and proven the Johor royal household’s adage that the sultan and his subjects are inseparable.
Of course, taking part in the tour events is fun as well.
Hundreds of people will line the roads to greet the sultan while waving Johor flags. Community events, such as sports, telematches, cultural shows, cooking demonstrations and local product promotion fairs, will be organised.
This year’s tour was a hit as Johoreans caught a glimpse of Sultan Ibrahim’s brand new Mack truck. Many were drawn to the prime mover that resembled Optimus Prime in the movie Transformers.
Another two trucks were used — one turquoise with a scorpion motif and the other in orange.
Past tours have also been interesting as Sultan Ibrahim would always ride a unique vehicle. Remember the time when he obtained a locomotive licence and drove a train in 2010?
That was probably a one-of-a-kind moment.
Children are probably the luckiest as the organisers often distribute items, such as school bags, stationery and uniforms.
This year, RM1 million from the Sultan Ibrahim Foundation was donated during the tour. The ruler gave RM100,000 to each of the 10 districts in the state. The funds were presented to district officers during stopovers.
Sultan Ibrahim also presented financial aid and gifts, such as bicycles for students, household electrical items and other daily necessities, on behalf of the Welfare and Johor Religious Departments.
Ahmad Fairuz Othman is NST Johor bureau chief. When not working, he loves driving along the coastal highway and trunk roads of Johor. A lover of food, music and theatre, he recommends that everyone try Johor’s version of ‘ais kacang’, which is drenched in chocolate sauce