Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah sharing a light moment with children at the Tanjong Tokong Ramadan bazaar in April. — Bernama
TENGKU Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah is known for her many passions.
Other than cooking, sewing, the fine arts, history and heritage, Tunku Azizah is also a staunch promoter of the traditional silk weaving technique of Tenun Pahang Diraja.
Through Tunku Azizah’s efforts and encouragement, inmates at the Bentong and Penor prisons learned to weave and were equipped with skills to find jobs once released.
Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah leaving for the coronation ceremony of King Charles lll at Westminster Abbey in May. — Bernama
Earlier this year, Tunku Azizah combined her passions by making bubur lambuk to be distributed to the inmates of the Penor prison. Tunku Azizah said she was fulfilling the promise to cook for the inmates involved in the prison’s Tenun Pahang workshop and since it was the fasting month, she decided to cook for all inmates.
At the event, three large-sized pots were used to prepare the dish to produce more than 2,500 bowls of bubur lambuk.
In May, Tunku Azizah also led the Malaysian delegation in participating in London Craft Week for the second time.
Tunku Azizah being briefed on the process of Tenun Pahang, at the Penjara Penor Kuantan in 2019. – Filepic
“Last year, we participated in London Craft Week by promoting the heritage textiles of the Tenun Pahang Diraja and it was quite successful when it attracted 3,000 visitors including fashion designers. Following the good response, this time, we decided to feature local heritage craft products because most of the products were made by the older generations and will disappear if not revived,” Tunku Azizah was reported as saying.
Tunku received a courtesy call from former British prime minister David Cameron during the exhibition.
According to the Laws of the Constitution of Pahang, the Tengku Ampuan Pahang is appointed by the Sultan and must be a Malay, of royal blood, of Muslim faith and whose marriage to the Sultan is valid according to Islamic law and applicable laws.
Tunku Azizah speaking during a press conference at Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur, in March, to announce details of the Malaysia’s Heritage Crafts exhibition organised as part of London Craft Week. – Kamarul Ariffin/The Star
Should the Sultan pass away, the Tengku Ampuan Pahang’s title will be changed to Tengku Ampuan Besar.
Tunku Azizah, 62, was born in Istana Bukit Stulang, Johor Baru to Almarhum Sultan Iskandar and Almarhumah Enche’ Besar Hajah Khalsom Abdullah.
Tunku Azizah is the sister of Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, who is currently the reigning Sultan of Johor.
Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah preparing bubur lambuk Pahang to distribute to the public in conjunction with Program Memasak Bubur Lambuk Istana Negara in March. — Bernama
Tunku Azizah received her early education at Sekolah Taman Kanak-Kanak Tunku Ampuan Mariam, Sekolah Perempuan Rendah Sultan Ibrahim and Sekolah Tun Fatimah, Johor Baru.
On March 6, 1986, Tunku married Al-Sultan Abdullah, who was the Tengku Mahkota Pahang at that time.
Upon Sultan Abdullah’s proclamation as Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2019, Tunku Azizah automatically took on the title of Raja Permaisuri Agong, just two days after her own proclamation as Tengku Ampuan Pahang.
As the Raja Permaisuri Agong, however, Tunku Azizah would not receive any allowance as Tengku Ampuan Pahang during Al-Sultan Abdullah’s term as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
