SULTAN OF SELANGOR PAYS LAST RESPECTS
Family, friends and celebrities mourn loss of a ‘caring’ and ‘dedicated’ man
KINDHEARTED, loving, caring and dedicated: this is how friends and family described celebrity chef Datuk Raja Rosly Raja Mazlan, who died of diabetes and kidney complications on Friday.
Raja Rosly, 57, fondly known as Pak Engku, was admitted to Darul Ehsan Medical Centre here on Thursday for health conditions and underwent surgery that night.
Solat jenazah (funeral prayer) was held at Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque at 9.30am yesterday, and his remains were laid to rest at the Shah Alam Royal Mausoleum about 11am.
Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and his consort, Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, paid their last respects.
About 500 people, including family members, friends and celebrities, were present.
Pak Engku’s eldest son, Raja Muhammad Danial, 21, said his father was ill for some time, but did not want to burden his friends and family.
“Dad was a strong-spirited and loving man, but he did not like to show affection. He is a perfectionist and workaholic, but never failed to spend time with us.”
Pak Engku’s nephew, Raja Azlan Shah Raja Anuar, 30, who spent 20 years under his wings, said his uncle always made the people around him happy.
“He taught me a lot about the catering business, something he was passionate about. He was never stingy when it came to sharing knowledge.”
Pak Engku’s friend, Datuk Mahat Bahari, 65, said: “Pak Engku was helpful, humble, soft-spoken and friendly. He valued friendship. I feel his loss. ”
Music composer S. Atan, 68, who made two albums with Pak Engku, said the deceased loved to sing, especially the oldies.
“He also collected antiques.
“I had known him for only two years, yet I feel as if we had been friends for life.
“He often shared his recipes with us. He wanted to work on a third album this year. Unfortunately, it did not materialise.”
Veteran Artist Foundation chairman Kismah Johar, 65, said Pak Engku always invited her and friends over to try out new recipes.
Pak Engku, who owned Kuzie Catering & Wedding Planner, is survived by his wife, Datin Ramziah Samah, 47, and three children.
He was born in Kampung Batu Laut, Banting, Selangor, and was a clerk at the state executive council’s office from 1979 to 1981, before venturing into catering.
He was a major figure in the catering and culinary business for the last 25 years.
He had also authored several recipe books.
He had been the official caterer for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open houses since 2009.
Condolence messages poured in on social media for Pak Engku’s family.
The office of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wrote on its Twitter page: “Condolences to the family of Raja Rosly (Pak Engku). May his soul be placed among the righteous in paradise, ameen. Al-Fatihah”.