KUALA TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA: About 10,000 people turned up at the Sultan Mahmud Airport here to welcome the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, when the king flew in here from Kuala Lumpur Saturday (29 Mar).

Bernama reports that many had arriced as early as 7.30am, carrying with them banners and placards and yellow flags in an expression of support for Tuanku Mizan, who is also the Sultan of Terengganu.
Many also lined both sides of the road leading out of the airport for a distance of about one kilometer shouting "Daulat Tuanku" (Long Live His Majesty) as soon as the king's special aircraft touched down at the airport at about 10am.

Tuanku Mizan was accompanied by the President of the Regency Advisory Council, Tengku Sri Panglima Raja Tengku Baderulzaman, on the flight from Kuala Lumpur.

Tuanku Mizan was welcomed upon arrival by Regency Advisory Council member Tengku Sri Laksamana Raja Tengku Sulaiman Sultan Ismail, the new Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said, state assemblymen, heads of departments and senior government officers.

Former menteri besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, who is the assemblyman for Jerteh, who was the Prime Minister Abduallh Ahmad Badawi’s ’s choice for the job, was not seen at the airport, according to Bernama. The "doa selamat" prayer was recited after the arrival of Tuanku Mizan.

Tuanku Mizan, who was visibly moved by the show of support, waved to the people before getting into his car. The king continued to wave to the people as the car pulled out of the airport terminal building and, at times, also shook hands with the people lining the road as the car moved slowly away.

The king had returned to Terengganu to participate in the Malaysia Endurance Circuit 2008 at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Lembah Bidong, Setiu, which is scheduled to begin at 4pm.

Thirty minutes before the king arrived, the Regent of Terengganu, Tengku Muhammad Ismail, arrived in another special aircraft accompanied by another Regency Advisory Council member, former Federal Court judge Datuk Abdul Kadir Sulaiman. Tengku Muhammad Ismail waited for the arrival of his father before proceeding together to the palace.

The welcome ceremony for Tuanku Mizan was organised by the Majlis Permuafakatan Rakyat Terengganu (Mampat) for the people to express their undivided support for the king.

Two days ago, Mampat launched a signature campaign to enable the people pledge their loyalty to the Sultan of Terengganu. People in the state had also affixed yellow ribbons on their vehicles to express their support for Tuanku Mizan.