Taib and Raghad (front second and third left) join prayers on the tarmac. Also seen from front left are Asfia, Fatimah, Wong, Julaihi, Abdul Karim, Juanda, Misnu and Ismawi. Dr Jerip is at right, while Manyin is at back second right.

KUCHING: Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib returned to Sarawak on Monday.

They arrived at the Hornbill Skyways Hangar, Kuching International Airport at around 10.30pm.

Among those present to welcome the couple back were State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, who was Acting Head of State during Taib’s absence, and his wife Datin Amar Datuk Fatimah Mohamad Iskandar.

Second Minister of Finance Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh; Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong; Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Assistant Minister of Coastal Road Datuk Julaihi Narawi; and Assistant Minister of Transportation Datuk Dr Jerip Susil were also present.

Also seen were Jemoreng assemblyman Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya, Sarawak Islamic Council president Datu Misnu Taha, and Regional Corridor Development Authority CEO Datu Ismawi Ismuni.

Taib and Raghad had been holidaying overseas with stops including San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles in the United States; Paris, France; and London, England.