Proposal letter, marriage cert of Sultan Abdullah-Tunku Azizah at the Royal Museum
KUALA LUMPUR: If previously the public could only read about the love story of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah in media reports, now they can actually see the physical evidence of the royal couple’s love.
From the letter of intent of marriage to marry Sultan Abdullah to Tunku Azizah sent by the former’s father, the late Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah to Tunku Azizah’s father, the late Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail, to the royal couple’s marriage papers - these are the special items that will be on display to the public at the ‘Pameran Raja Kita’ (Exhibition of Our King) to be held at the Royal Museum of Istana Negara Lama (old National Palace) in Jalan Istana.
“At this exhibition, the public will definitely be drawn to the two letters, which are the letter of intent by the late Sultan Ahmad Shah for the royal couple to marry, and the reply from Sultan Iskandar stating his agreement to it.
“In addition, there are other wedding documents such as wedding programme book, marriage certificate, and the special cushion for the solemnisation ceremony which will also be put on display,” said director of the Royal Museum, Miti Fateema Sherzeella Mohd Yusoff.
Speaking to Bernama recently, Miti Fateema Sherzeela said the royal couple’s wedding attire, including the clothes worn during the solemnisation and cake cutting ceremonies, and the red-blackyellow blouse worn by Tunku Azizah on her first date with His Majesty are among the items in the exhibition which will run for three months, beginning this Tuesday.
A total of 198 items from the royal couple’s private collection and royal regalia borrowed from Istana Negara, Office of the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, Sultan Abu Bakar Museum, Istana Abdulaziz and Istana Abu Bakar will be on display at the exhibition which is held in conjunction with the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Installation Ceremony last Tuesday.
Miti Fateema Sherzeella said all the items on display at the Royal Exhibition were obtained as part of her department’s research since last April, assisted by several agencies including the National Archives, National Library, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and the Pahang State Archive.
Meanwhile, director of the division of Collection Management in the Department of Museum, Zainal Ariffin, said that after the research was conducted and the items identified, his department was responsible for managing them for display.
“Not all the items submitted by the team which conducted the initial research can be put on display as they need His Majesty’s consent, and there are also items which have been personally selected by Raja Permaisuri Agong to be displayed to the people,” he said.
Zainal said the items which have been procured will be inspected by the conservation team first to assess their condition in the event of any damage that needs repair.
The conservation team will also be responsible for damage prevention works, monitoring the temperature and lighting systems as well as packaging and preservation of these valuable items.
“For instance, if an item is moldy, the conservation team will polish it or if a clothing item has a tear or its beading is loose, we will sew the part carefully, something which may take months to complete,” he said.