Driver shares memorable moments driving royal couple
Hardly a year into his job as chauffeur to the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Azman Saadon made the most embarrassing mistake when he closed a car door against the prince’s foot.
Recalling the fretful incident, Azman, 53, currently the official driver of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, said it was really careless of him to shut the door when Sultan Abdullah was not yet properly seated in the car.
I did wonder then why it was difficult to close the door … I made several attempts but there seemed to be something in the way. I was horrified when I realised it was the Tuanku’s foot.
I was at my wits’ end as Tuanku was glaring at me. I apologised profusely for the error. Luckily he was cool about it and brushed the matter aside.
While driving the royal couple, Azman said Sultan Abdullah likes to have the radio on but the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah would spend the time checking on her mobile phone or indulge in her knitting.
Azman who hails from Kampung Mengkasar, Pekan said Sultan Abdullah loves listening to songs from the 70s and 80s, with the volume lowered, but when he hears his favourite songs being played he would ask to increase the volume.
“At times he would start a conversation with me and often times he would enquire about my family or talk about problems faced by the people.
“The couple has a genuine concern for others, especially the palace staff,” Azman said while sharing that Sultan Abdullah took care of his four children’s educational needs right up to tertiary level.
Azman added that Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah were also concerned over road safety and often reminded him to drive carefully especially on rainy days or on winding roads, so as not to endanger the lives of others.
In fact, Azman said he was always reminded to rest well before embarking on long journeys, and if Tuanku were to travel earlier via helicopter, he would be told to leave a day earlier, so that he gets enough rest before work the next day.
Time and time again, Azman said whenever an ambulance siren is heard, the royal couple would instruct him to give way. They always insist that the injured or the sick should be given priority, he said.
Azman also recalled an accident which took place some time in 2015 when he was driving Tunku Azizah in Kuala Lumpur.
“I will never forget the frightful incident when the car was hit by a taxi which left me utterly stunned. Tuanku was equally startled but her natural response was to ask if I was alright.
“By then a crowd had gathered round the taxi and for fear of Tunku Azizah’s safety, I immediately drove away from the scene,” he said adding that was the most terrifying moment he ever encountered in his 25 years on the job.
Once while driving through Endau in Johor with Tunku Azizah, Azman said he realised there was something wrong with the left rear tyre.
“I was driving Tuanku to Johor Bahru to visit a sick relative,” he said.
“On informing her of the problem, she said she was adept at replacing tyres. Unfortunately the vehicle had no spare tyre.
She immediately sought the help of her brother the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim who instructed me to drive slowly to Mersing where he had arranged to have some people to look into the problem.
“Knowing Tunku Azizah, she would have replaced the tyre herself,” said Azman adding that he had always been in awe of the Queen’s varied capabilities.