Sunday, March 09, 2003

Day steeped in tradition

BY FREDERICK FERNANDEZ

KLANG: The glittering event that marked the coronation of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah as the ninth ruler of Selangor was reminiscent of the Malay Sultanate traditions dating back some 237 years ago.

CORONATION RITUALS: Sultan Sharafuddin kissing the Keris Terapang Habus, minutes before he was crowned the ninth Sultan of Selangor at the Istana Alam Shah, Klang Saturday. The Sultan positioned the keris, symbol of his royal authority, on the left side of his waist before the Royal Crown was placed on his head by the Royal Mufti of Selangor, Datuk Seri Utama Mohamad Tamyes Abdul Wahid.

A live broadcast by Radio Television Malaysia of the historic ceremony at the Istana Alam Shah here provided one of the splashes of modern-day rituals.

The event started off with the inspection by the Sultan of the guard of honour mounted by 103 officers from the Royal Malaysian Navy in the palace grounds before he entered the throne room (Balairong Seri) for his coronation.

A procession of Penjawat Istana dressed in traditional costumes accompanied the Sultan into the hall, carrying royal items as well as ceremonial candles, umbrellas, spears and swords.

The procession was led by Engku Orang Kaya Menteri Raja Rashad Tengku Badlishah.

At 10am, the Ketua Adat Istiadat Di Raja Tengku Sulaiman Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah led another procession into the Balairong Seri.

He was accompanied by Engku Seri Perdana Raja Zaid Shah Raja Mohamad, bearing the “Keris Panjang Beruk Berayun”.

Among those in the procession were the Panglima Perang Kanan and Panglima Perang Kiri, Anak Raja Berempat, Penghulu Adat Istiadat Raja Datuk Abdul Hamid Raja Nong and Tengku Setia Tengku Datuk Sulaiman Shah Tengku Abdul Jalil Shah.

Four coronation items - the Quran, Keris Terapang Gabus, the Royal Crown and the Pledge of Duty Text by the Sultan of Selangor - were brought in by the procession to start the ceremony.

The Sultan kissed the Quran three times and the Keris Terapang Gabus once before placing the Quran on a special table and placing the keris on the left side of his waist.

The Royal Mufti of Selangor, Datuk Seri Utama Mohamad Tamyes Abdul Wahid then took the Royal Crown from Tengku Bendahara Tengku Azman Shah before placing it on the Sultan's head, as the royal nobat musicians played a ceremonial tune.

This was followed by three shouts of “Daulat Tuanku” led by Seri Amar DiRaja Datuk Abdul Hamid Raja Nong and a simultaneous 21 gun-salute.

Sultan Sharafuddin then read out his pledge of duty to his state and his subjects, followed by a reciprocal pledge of loyalty and congratulatory message from the people, read by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.

This was followed by the Istiadat Merenjis Air Mawar (sprinkling of rose water) performed by Tengku Aris Temenggong Tengku Muhammad Yusof Shah ibni Sultan Alaeddin, Tengku Bendahara Tengku Azman Shah and Tengku Ampuan Bariah.

REJOICING:Abdullah congratulations Sultan Sharafuddin on being crowned the ninth Ruler of Selangor.

Family members, relatives, friends and guests of the Sultan Sharafuddin took their turns to congratulate him on his coronation as the new ruler of the state.

The Sultan later left the Balairong Seri, preceded by the procession of palace officials, members of the Selangor royal house, Penjawat Istana and others who were involved in the ceremony.

Among those who witnessed the ceremony were Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah, Tengku Seri Bendahara of Terengganu Tengku Mustafa Kamel Sultan Mahmud and Tunku Laxsamana of Negri Sembilan Tunku Naqiyuddin Tunku Jaafar.

The others were Raja Muda of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah, Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra Sultan Ismail Petra, Raja Muda of Kedah Tunku Abdul Malik Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ibrahim Ismail Sultan Iskandar and Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Acting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who represented Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail and several Cabinet ministers were also present.

The ceremony was also attended by Regent of Perlis Tunku Syed Faizuddin Putra Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Brunei Haji Al Muhtadee Billah ibni Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah Datuk Seri Panglima Ahmadshah Abdullah, Penang Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sarawak Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin and Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka Tun Syed Ahmad Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin.

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