Tuanku Mizan arrives in Antartica

(picture from Bernama)
HM Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin arrived at Pegasus Airfield

His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the Supreme Ruler) of Malaysia, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin arrived at Scott Base on Monday for a special working visit to Antarctica. The Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and his entourage arrived in the South Pole on a special United States Air Force C-17 Globe Master aircraft which landed at Pegasus Airfield, where the runway was built on frozen sea water, at about 1pm local time.

The entourage comprised, among others, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Academy of Sciences Malaysia Antarctica Taskforce chairman Tan Sri Salleh Mohd Nor, National Antarctica Research Centre director Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah. Also on board the aircraft were 70 international researchers and scientists who will be conducting research in Antarctica.

(picture from Bernama)
HM Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin was greeted by David Washer upon his arrival to Pegasus Airfield

Tuanku Mizan was met on arrival by Antarctica Service Supervisor, David Washer, and was later taken on a 20-minute ride to Scott Research Centre. A briefing on Antarctica was given to the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin by Chief Executive of Antarctica New Zealand Lou Sanson before he took a ride on a tracked vehicle, known as Hagglund, to visit Castle Rock and Antarctic Field Training Camp.

(picture from Bernama)
HM Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Minister Maximus Johnity Ongkili walking to the Scott Base on the McMurdo Sound Sea ice sheet.

HM Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin meddling with the Weddel Seal in his 2 hour journey to Scott Base

On the second day in Antarctica, the King is scheduled to go on a helicopter trip across Mc Murdo Sound and visit the hut occupied by Captain Scott between 1910 and 1912 in Cape Evans and the hut occupied by Sir Ernest Shackleton between 1907 and 1909 in Cape Royds.