LABUAN: Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia concluded her inaugural two-day working visit to Labuan, Malaysia's international business and financial centre, by gracing the presentation of donation benefitting the asnaf community today.
The donation was a personal gift from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, which also highlighted both Their Majesties' commitment to charitable initiatives and support for the community.
A total of 378 asnaf individuals (tithe recipients), comprising 300 local residents and 78 schoolchildren, received the donation during the ceremony at Kompleks Darul Kifayah here.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Labuan Member of Parliament Datuk Dr Suhaili Abd Rahman, and Federal Territories Department (FTD) director-general Datuk Noridah Abdul Rahim were present.
In her address, Her Majesty, among others, expressed her delight at experiencing the beauty of Labuan Island.
"Throughout my inaugural visit to this island, I have had the opportunity to witness its beauty firsthand…I hope that this beauty can be preserved and enhanced," she said.
The Queen also emphasised the potential of the nearby islands around Labuan for tourism, including for activities like scuba diving, and encouraged further exploration to benefit the local industry and community.
"I also visited Labuan Matriculation College and received a briefing on the current education landscape here. I hope that educational challenges in Labuan will be addressed, ensuring that students in need receive proper support and are not left behind in the national education system," she said.
During her visit to Kampung Sungai Lada on Tuesday, the Queen also expressed her admiration for local handicrafts and hope that the local handicraft industry will continue to grow with support from the FTD and the Labuan Corporation (LC), to bring more benefits to the local community.
She further noted the warmth and harmony among the multiracial residents of Labuan.
"During my two-day visit, I have seen the unique cohesion of the diverse communities here…I hope that all stakeholders with an interest in this island will work together to improve the welfare of the local community," she said.
Her Majesty also visited the PUJI (Program Usaha Jaya Insan) Showcase, an initiative led by the FTD, which highlights efforts to empower and support underserved communities.
The Queen is scheduled to return to Johor later this afternoon. – BERNAMA