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.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, 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. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including 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.
In her address, Her Majesty expressed her delight at experiencing the beauty
of Labuan Island. She emphasized the importance of preserving and enhancing the island’s natural beauty and highlighted the potential of the nearby islands for tourism development. The Queen encouraged further exploration of these areas to benefit the local industry and community, particularly through activities such as scuba diving.
Her Majesty also visited Labuan Matriculation College, where she received a briefing on the education landscape in the region. She expressed her hope that educational challenges in Labuan would be addressed, ensuring that students in need receive proper support and are not left behind in the national education system.
During her visit to Kampung Sungai Lada, the Queen praised the local handicraft industry and expressed her hope for its continued growth with support from the FTD and the Labuan Corporation (LC). She noted the potential benefits that a thriving handicraft industry could bring to the local community.
Her Majesty further acknowledged the warmth and harmony among th
e multiracial residents of Labuan, expressing her appreciation for the unique cohesion of the diverse communities. She called on all stakeholders with an interest in the island to work together to improve the welfare of the local community.
Additionally, the Queen attended the PUJI (Program Usaha Jaya Insan) Showcase, an initiative led by the FTD, which aims to empower and support underserved communities. Her Majesty is scheduled to return to Johor later this afternoon.