Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah — A royal couple loved by the people
KUALA LUMPUR: It is not unusual to unexpectedly spot this well-known person waiting in line to buy fried chicken at a fast-food chain outlet or by the roadside assisting an accident victim.
Many Malaysians may even recall instances when this individual braved floods to witness first-hand the losses and destruction suffered by the victims.
In the eyes of the world, this person is Malaysia’s Head of State but for the people of this country, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and his wife Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah embody a fatherly and motherly presence, always caring for the people without being bound by protocol.
Indeed, there have been occasions when some people, perhaps carried away by the royal couple’s friendly and easy-going nature, affectionately addressed Al-Sultan Abdullah as “pak cik (uncle) Agong” or “abang (brother) Agong” and Tunku Azizah as “kakak” (sister).
The King and Queen, often referred to by netizens as “pasangan bersemut” (a colloquial term in cyberspace signifying an exceptionally affectionate couple), never fail to put the public at ease and are ever willing to pose with them for photographs whenever the opportunity arises.
During a visit to Beaufort in Sabah last September, Tunku Azizah was moved to tears seeing how the people waited in the rain to welcome them, serving as a testament to the royal couple’s sincerity in caring for various segments of society.
“Thank you very much. Tuanku (Al-Sultan Abdullah) and I will remember this for the rest of our lives… We apologise and feel guilty for making the people wait out there in the rain because we couldn’t go out and meet them.
“… only Allah SWT can repay, and Tuanku and I pray that everyone stays healthy and won’t get a fever from waiting in the rain for so long,” Tunku Azizah said in a 40-second video she herself had recorded, which was shared by Istana Negara on Instagram.
This Tuesday, Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah will return to Pahang, His Majesty having completed his five-year term as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong since ascending the federal throne on Jan 31, 2019.
Meanwhile, people who have had the pleasure of meeting the Pahang royal couple have spoken of the glowing aura behind their unassuming demeanour. Bernama reporter Muhammad Basir Roslan, who was among the journalists that “camped out” at the gates of Istana Negara following the resignation of the seventh prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Feb 27, 2020, said it was this aura that made him tremble a bit when AlSultan Abdullah greeted him and inquired if he had had lunch or not.
“His Majesty interacted graciously with all the media personnel. For days, we had been camping outside the palace from early morning to late evening to report the latest developments in the political crisis gripping the nation at that time.
“His Majesty was concerned about our welfare and provided us food packs which he himself delivered to us despite the searing heat outdoors,” said Muhammad Basir, adding he would never forget the delicious cookies baked and sent to them by the Queen, who is known for her culinary expertise.
Another person who was touched by His Majesty’s impartiality and genuine concern for the common people regardless of their backgrounds is R. Yogeswary, 45, a security guard at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun in Ipoh, Perak, who received the Pingat Pangkuan Negara (PPN) from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during the investiture ceremony at Istana Negara last month. (Yogeswary was in the limelight recently after a video of her going out of her way to help patients and visitors at the hospital went viral on social media.)
Even more special, the King himself expressed his wish to see Yogeswary personally after the ceremony. When contacted by Bernama, she said the Yang diPertuan Agong’s attention helped to change the public’s perception of her career.
“Previously, not many people looked up to security guards. However, after my services went viral and I received the attention of Tuanku, the public began to realise the importance of a security guard’s job,” the single mother-of-two said, adding the three words the King uttered (“You deserve it”) when handing the award to her still resonate in her ears.
She said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s compliment has motivated her to persist in her efforts to help the community.
“The King and Queen were so humble and they treated me well when I was at Istana Negara… I will cherish those moments forever,” she added.—