Sultan Sharafuddin, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and Tengku Amir on their way to an award ceremony at Balairung Seri at Istana Alam Shah in Klang. — KK SHAM/The Star.
SELANGOR Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who is known for his no-nonsense demeanour and straight talk, has always spoken up when things are not right.
Thanks to the Ruler’s timely intervention, many issues that would have otherwise gone unchecked have been brought to the forefront and resolved.
Looking back, one cannot forget how the Sultan intervened to help free a long-suffering woman from a failed marriage following her futile efforts to seek a divorce.
Sultan Sharafuddin presenting Hari Raya aid to people from the Petaling district at the Tengku ampule Jemaah royal mosque in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam, in April this year as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim looks on. His Royal Highness and Tengku Amir Shah also spent time breaking fast with the people. — SHAARI CHEMAT /THE STAR
Aida Melly Tan Mutalib’s attempts to leave her broken marriage finally materialised after she wrote to the Selangor Palace in desperation, hoping that Sultan Sharafuddin would assist her.
The Ruler did indeed assist by instructing the relevant authorities to expedite the divorce, which was finally granted in 2002 after nearly seven long years.
This year, Sultan Sharafuddin also spoke out against many issues that needed to be addressed and called for unity among the people, as well as respect for national heroes.
Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah chatting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the 267th Conference of Rulers in Istana Negara, in October. - Photo taken from the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page
In July, the Sultan stressed the need to honour the sacrifices of national heroes who had defended the country’s sovereignty and peace.
“Their service and sacrifices should serve as an inspiration and motivation for today’s and future generations to understand what has been fought for.
“Indeed, the hardships endured by our national heroes have shaped the peace that Malaysia enjoys today,” Sultan Sharafuddin said in his address in conjunction with Warriors’ Day.
Tuanku expressed his disappointment that some had forgotten the sacrifices made by the nation’s soldiers, who risked their lives to protect the country and its people.
“If we forget and do not appreciate the sacrifices of our national heroes, the history of colonisation and humiliation will repeat itself because we did not strive hard enough to defend the country’s sovereignty and did not love the country wholeheartedly.
Sultan Sharafuddin taking a photo with a visually impairedchild at the Raja Tun Uda Library Foundation in November2023. With him are YPRTU chairman Raja Tan Sri Arshad RajaTun Uda and Selangor Public Library Corporation director DatinPaduka Mastura Muhamad. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
“Avoid selfishness driven by the desire for personal wealth accumulation that leads to negligence in defending the country, which ultimately will result in the nation being governed and controlled by enemies,” Sultan Sharafuddin had been reported as saying.
The Sultan’s firm and no-nonsense stance surfaced when he lambasted the Malaysian Football League (MFL) for fining the Selangor football team RM100,000 and imposing a three-point docking for pulling out of the Charity Shield match against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) on May 10 this year.
The Selangor team had opted to withdraw after one of its ace players, winger Faisal Halim, suffered an acid attack just days before the match.
To make matters worse, the MFL also instructed that the next match between the Selangor team and JDT be played in an empty stadium.
Sultan Sharafuddin giving the opening speech at a state assembly meeting in Shah Alam.
An evidently angry Sultan Sharafuddin had slammed the MFL for the harsh fine and said it was absurd and excessive to bar spectators from the upcoming match between the teams, scheduled to take place at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium.
“I’m angry with the MFL’s decision, which is irresponsible, inhumane and made without compassion and without taking into account the injustice that had occurred,” Sultan Sharafuddin had said in a statement.
Sultan Sharafuddin’s condemnation of the MFL’s harsh actions led to officials from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) urgently seeking an audience with the Ruler.
Additionally, the Ruler advocates for national unity and consistently encourages the people to foster camaraderie and live harmoniously.
His Royal Highness also regularly reminds the masses to not spread hate by promoting hateful and negative elements such as matters related to 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues.
In a royal address to commemorate National Day this year, Sultan Sharafuddin said the royal institution must not be dragged into political allegations and slander.
Visiting the Selangor International Book Fair after officiating thelaunch of the Selangor education summit at Setia City Convention Centre in november. — KK SHAM/THE STAR
“The royal institution is above politics and thus, any form of reprimand and criticism against the Rulers and the royal institution must be voiced through the correct channel and handled prudently,” Sultan Sharafuddin had said.
The Ruler had also advised leaders and politicians to avoid inciting the politics of hate, adding that His Royal Highness would continue advising them even though some leaders and politicians still practise this negative culture.
“I will never tire of advising the people to always cultivate a high level of unity within the community.
“Any differences amongst the races, religions and political leanings should not be an obstacle for Malaysians in being loyal to the nation.
“On the contrary, use the differences as a recipe to create a pluralistic society that is united and respects one another,” Sultan Sharafuddin added in his address.
Sultan Sharafuddin delivering a speech during Universiti Putra Malaysia’s 48th convocation ceremony at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Arts & Cultural Centre in Serdang, in November. — Photo courtesy of theSelangor Royal Office Facebook page
More recently, Sultan Sharafuddin shared his grievance over the fate of the children that had been under the care of the infamous Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH).
The Ruler called for the swift rehabilitation of the rescued children and ordered the state government to form a special committee to address the matter effectively.
A posting in the Selangor Royal Office’s Facebook page stated that the committee would report directly to the Sultan and be responsible for rehabilitating and reintegrating the children into society.
In another posting, Sultan Sharafuddin said GISBH was oblivious to the fact that children had rights and needed to be treated with respect.
The Ruler had added that it was the children’s right to live peacefully in a safe environment without being exposed to criminal acts such as molestation, sodomy, abuse, forced marriage and divorce, as well as forced labour.
The Sultan pointed out that it was not right for the children to be separated from their parents and forced to claim that they were orphans.
Sultan Sharafuddin has also advocated mental health and urged the public to be more sensitive towards the plight of those suffering from mental health problems.
“Individuals who are physically fit may not be mentally fit. Hence, I urge everyone not to ostracise or stigmatise those who face mental health problems such as depression and acute anxiety,” Sultan Sharafuddin had said in his royal address at the launch of the Tanjong Karang Hospital early last year.
The Ruler said people suffering from mental health issues must receive appropriate treatment with everyone helping out in the healing process.
Sultan Sharafuddin ascended the Selangor throne as the ninth Sultan of Selangor on Nov 22, 2001, following the demise of his father Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah.
Sultan Sharafuddin was born as Tengku Idris Shah to Sultan Salahuddin and his first wife Raja Saidatul Ihsan Tengku Badar Shah on Dec 24, 1945, at Istana Jemaah in Klang.
His Royal Highness became the Raja Muda of Selangor at the age of 15 in 1960, when Sultan Salahuddin was installed as the Sultan of Selangor.
Sultan Sharafuddin attended the Malay Primary School in Jalan Raja Muda, Kuala Lumpur, before enrolling in St John’s Institution. The Ruler then continued his schooling at the Hale School in Perth, Australia, in 1960 and later enrolled in Langhurst College in Surrey, England, in 1964.
Upon his return to Malaysia, Sultan Sharafuddin became a civil servant and served in the Selangor state secretariat, Kuala Lumpur district office and police department.
The Ruler has three children – Tengku Zerafina, Tengku Zatashah and the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah, as well as a granddaughter.
The Ruler is married to Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin.
May Sultan Sharafuddin be blessed with good health and many more years ahead.
Daulat Tuanku!
