SUNDAY VIBES
brief historical narration about the Kedah Royal Family written by Tunku Nong Tunku Muhammad Jiwa. According to Tunku Nong, the first known settlement in Kedah was at the mouth of the Merbok River and it was there that a large galleon belonging to a Persian prince came to anchor.
The prince and his retinue were the only survivors of a large flotilla heading for China. The rest of the ships were lost in a terrible storm. The prince, who claimed direct descent from Alexander the Great, was so well liked by the local population that they accepted him as their leader. Then, nearly 800 years later, a Kedah ruler by the name of Seri Paduka Maharaja Durba Raja embraced the Islamic faith and took on the title Sultan Muzaffar Shah.
While admitting the existence of Merong Mahawangsa and Raja Bersiong through hearsay evidence and place names said to be associated with their reigns, Tunku Nong dispels them as mere legends with no proper historical proof. Instead, he mentions wise rule and the profound loyalty of the people as the two main attributes that have contributed to the preservation the Kedah Sultanate through the ages. exile to learn administrative skills as well as imbibe the laws and teachings of Islam. Upon his return, Sultan Muhammad Jiwa forbade his ministers from conducting private businesses and, instead, ordered them to constantly safeguard the welfare of his people.
The royal decree marked the gradual end of feudalism and paved the way for a more democratic government in Kedah. The people were empowered to determine their own destiny and the economy flourished with gold and silver currencies coming into use for the very first time.
Unfortunately, prosperity didn’t last forever. What followed soon after was a long era in Kedah history when it became a vassal state under Siam (today Thailand). While the people still continued to cherish their rulers, important matters of state like the question of succession had to be sanctioned by the King of Siam.
During those uncertain times, life in Kedah began to change with the steady inflow of peasants and missionaries from the north. To make things worse, the Siamese overlords introduced a new system of revenue collection that eventually tore apart Kedah’s traditional forced labour or kerah system.
While lauding successive Kedah rulers for their tolerance and adaptability to protect and love the people, Tunku Nong singled out both Sultan Sallehuddin and Sultan Abdul Halim’s father, Sultan Badlishah ibni alMarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah as an outstanding example of a ruler who always put the state first before everything else and showed that his subjects were always close to his heart. The installation First Day Cover issued on Feb 20, 1959.
about the mystery shrouding the large drum or Nahara in the nine-piece royal musical ensemble. Legend has it that the abdominal lining of a pregnant woman who was slain for the purpose was once used to line the side of the drum instead of the current deer hide. Back then, people even claimed to hear the wail of a baby whenever the nobat was played.
As a result of the unsubstantiated legend, the people began to consider the nobat as sacred. In the early days, many young mothers used to make a beeline for the Nobat Tower, located near the Balai Besar in the middle of town, and pledged offerings for the recovery of their ailing children.
While there have been many tunes played by the royal orchestra in the past, by the 1950s, the royal musicians were only required to specialise in nine tunes. The most famous melody of all is the War Siren, Lagu Genderang Perang, which is played each time the monarch leaves the palace or returns to it after a journey.
Finally, I reach the much anticipated part that details the events that unfolded during Sultan Abdul Halim’s installation in 1959. The ceremony began at 8.30am with the arrival of invited guests and dignitaries. Half an hour later, the Sultan and Sultanah of Kedah were greeted upon arrival by the Guard of Honour mounted by the Royal Malay Regiment.
Once all the guests had taken their respective places, their Highnesses made their entrance at the Balai Penghadapan, preceded by the Kedah Mentri Besar, Raja Muda and installation regalia bearers accompanied by the Lagu Raja Berangkat nobat notes.
After that, the Mentri Besar was invited by the Ketua Istiadat to read the installation proclamation before handing the State Keris to the Sultan. Then, everyone present at the Balai Besar echoed the Ketua Istiadat when he acclaimed in a loud and clear voice “Daulat Tuanku” thrice.
The nobat began playing once everyone returned to their seats. As the Lagu Raja Tabal and Lagu Genderang Perang were played in succession, the Royal Malay Regiment began firing a 21-gun royal salute at the padang nearby. The installation ceremony ended with a prayer recital by the State Mufti, Sheikh-ul Islam.
A series of sporting events and festivals were held over a three-day period following Sultan Abdul Halim’s installation. Among them were the Water Festival at Tanjong Charlie, Parade and March Past at Padang Court and Physical Culture Display at Sultan Abdul Hamid College.
The festivities came to an end once their Highnesses completed their tour of all the 12 districts in the state. Among the towns visited between the periods of Feb 24 and March 8, 1959 were Sungai Petani, Baling, Kulim, Bandar Bahru, Jitra, Yen, Pendang, Padang Terap, Sik and Langkawi. Each of their Highnesses’ arrival was welcomed by crowds of people eager to see their newlyinstalled ruler.
Flipping the pages back to the front cover before returning the booklet back to its rightful place, I suddenly notice an appendix that had been overlooked earlier. It tells of a single 10-cent stamp issue to commemorate the 1959 installation. This text immediately reminds me of the recent stamp and medallion collection launched by Sultan Sallehuddin to celebrate his coming installation.
The three different stamp designs, each with a 60-sen denomination, feature Sultan Sallehuddin in ceremonial, military and national attire, set against a background of Istana Anak Bukit. These stamps, together with a First Day Cover, a miniature sheet, and a brochure on Sultan Sallehuddin will be put on sale at all Pos Malaysia branches tomorrow.
Sultan Sallehuddin’s installation will surely be the grandest of its kind ever seen in the history of Kedah. Together with the rest of my fellow Kedahans, I take this opportunity to wish his Majesty a long and prosperous reign. Daulat Tuanku!