Ceremony steeped in tradition
Kedah Ruler’s installation will see a mix of custom and splendour
ALOR SETAR: There will be a glimpse of the glory of the Malay Sultanate when Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah is installed as the 29th Sultan of Kedah at a ceremony today.
The last time Kedah witnessed such a ceremony was 59 years ago when Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah was installed as the Ruler of the state.
Istana Anak Bukit is also set to make history as this will be the first time an installation ceremony is taking place there. The previous installation ceremonies took place at Istana Alor Setar.
Head of ceremony Datuk Bijaya Indera Datuk Paduka Syed Unan Mashri Syed Abdullah said in the past, not all the Sultans in the state were installed in accordance with the traditions and customs due to the prevailing circumstances then.
“According to historical records, Sultan Badlishah (ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah) was appointed (as the 27th Sultan of Kedah), but there was no installation ceremony due to the Japanese Occupation,” he said.
He said today’s installation would take place amid pomp and splendour, with the ceremony steeped in tradition and custom observed by the Kedah Malay Sultanate.
“But this time, there will be some changes. Any custom or ritual seen as going against the teachings of Islam will be excluded. In perfecting the installation ceremony, the status of Islam will be exalted.
“Tuanku does not want proceedings that carry elements of mysticism. In fact, the ceremony will be filled with the recital of prayers and verses from the Quran,” Syed Unan Mashri said.
Sultan Sallehuddin will wear a specially designed tengkolok (headdress) based on the design of the headdress worn by his late father Sultan Badlishah Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, the 27th Sultan of Kedah.
Syed Unan Mashri said the headdress, named Seri Mahkota, symbolised the noble qualities of the 29th Sultan of Kedah.
It was fashioned out of a onemetre-long songket that was handwoven from gold thread.
The Ruler, he said, would wear the traditional baju sikap.
“Tuanku has also said that he wants to use the sash used by the past Sultans, which is now kept in the state treasury,” he said.
And the nobat orchestra, whose history dates back 400 years, will play Lagu Perang, among others.
Several other ceremonies related to the Sultan’s installation were also held recently.
The Istiadat Letak Kerja to mark the launch of ceremonies for the Sultan’s installation was held on Sept 20; Istiadat Ziarah Makam (visit to the graves) on Oct 5; Istiadat Siram Tabal (royal bathing ceremony) on Oct 14; and Istiadat Perarakan (royal parade) on Oct 20.
On Sept 12, 2017, Sultan Sallehuddin was proclaimed the 29th Sultan of Kedah, succeeding Sultan Abdul Halim, who passed away a day earlier.
Sultan Sallehuddin was born in 1942. He is the ninth of 14 children born to Sultan Badlishah, who ruled Kedah from 1943 to 1958.
Sultan Sallehuddin and Sultanah of Kedah Sultanah Maliha Tengku Ariff have two children, Datuk Tunku Sarafudin Badlishah and Datuk Tunku Shazuddin Ariff.
Bernama also reported on a yellow and gold-coloured bahtera (barge) used during the royal procession on Saturday.
The royal couple rode on the bahtera, named Layang Emas, during the parade.
Built by woodcarver Ruslin Long, its design was conceptualised by the State Secretariat’s think tank, architects at the Public Works Department and Ruslin himself.
Ruslin, 64, said Layang Emas was the second bahtera he had been commissioned to build for the Kedah royal family,
The first one, named Emas Lapis Suasa, was built in conjunction with celebrations to commemorate the golden jubilee of Sultan Abdul Halim’s reign on July 15, 2008.
As for Layang Emas, Ruslin said that starting from its bow up to its stern, the royal barge’s design was replete with traditional Malay artis- tic features, borrowing elements from Kedah and Kelantan.
“The bow of the barge is in the shape of an eagle, which symbolises strength and power. The stern is shaped like an eagle’s tail, with the closely knit plumes denoting the unity of the people of the state.
“The middle portion of the barge, where the Sultan and Sultanah were seated throughout the procession, was created to resemble the Balai Besar,” Ruslin explained.
Its canopy was adorned with leaf motifs, carved wooden panels and decorative structures such as tunjuk langit and selembayung (usually placed on the roofs of traditional Malay houses).
Since Layang Emas was to be transported on a lorry’s trailer during the royal parade, the barge was built in the trailer itself.
“Before work started, we had to consider various aspects, including the trailer’s movements (during the procession) as the barge was going to be 25m long.
“We also had to figure out how it could manoeuvre onto other roads,” Ruslin said. — Bernama