M 091 RAJA ZARITH SOFIAH PERMAISURI JOHOR

PERMAISURI YANG ANGGUN DAN BIJAKSANA

Pada 23 Januari 2010, DYTM Raja Zarith Sofiah binti almarhum Sultan Idris Shah Afifullah, dengan secara langsung menjadi Wanita Pertama Negeri Johor DT apabila suaminya, DYTM Tunku Mahkota Johor, Tunku Ibrahim Ismail diisytiharkan sebagai Sultan Johor ke 5 berikutan dengan kemangkatan DYMM Sultan Iskandar Alhaj pada tarikh tersebut.

(Nota: Raja Zarith Sofiah telah ditabalkan sebagai Permaisuri Johor bersempena dengan Istiadat Kemahkotaan Sultan Johor pada 23 Mac 2015) 

Secara kebetulan tarikh keputeraan DYMM Sultan Ibrahim adalah sama dengan tarikh lahirku, iaitu 22 November.  Hanya tahunnya yang berbeza.  Baginda lebih tua setahun dari aku. Manakala YMM Tuanku Raja Zarith Sofiah adalah sebaya dengan aku tetapi baginda 3 bulan lebih tua dari aku. Kebetulan juga, aku mempunyai 6 orang cahaya mata, sebagaimana baginda berdua.

Di kalangan ISTERI SEMBILAN RAJA-RAJA MELAYU DI MALAYSIA (Permaisuri atau apa-apa jua gelaran yang digunapakai) yang memerintah sekarang hanya Permaisuri Johor yang merupakan puteri kepada seorang Sultan Negeri Melayu (iaitu Perak).  

Dua buah negeri (Selangor dan Kelantan) pada mas ini tidak mempunyai Permaisuri, Dua negeri (Perlis dan Negeri Sembilan) mempunyai Permaisuri dari kalangan kerabat diraja (kedua-duanya kerabat diraja Terengganu) manakala baki 4 buah negeri (Kedah, Pahang, Perak dan Terengganu) sekarang ini mempunyai Permaisuri dari kalangan rakyat biasa. 

Di kalangan Permasuri Raja di Malaysia, baginda Raja Zarith Sofiah adalah antara yang terpelajar - intelligent (mempunyai kelayakan hingga ke peringkat Master), fasih berbahasa Inggeris, Mandarin, Itali dan Perancis serta pernah menulis beberapa buah buku.

Realitinya atau 'on ground' jiwa baginda lebih 'mesra rakyat' berbanding dengan permaisuri yang dilahirkan dalam masyarakat biasa. Kalau melihat gambar-gambar dalam internet - gaya pakaian baginda juga kelihatan simple, kemas dan anggun- tidak 'over-fashioned".

Baginda Permaisuri Johor juga dilihat sebagai Permaisuri yang paling aktif dalam mendampingi rakyat. Oleh kerana sepertiga dari penduduk Bumiputera Johor adalah keturunan Jawa, lama kelamaan mungkin baginda pun boleh berbahasa Jawa!. Baginda kerap turun ke padang menyertai rakyat dan mengambil berat (amat prihatin) terhadap kebajikan khususnya apabila berlaku bencana alam.  Malah baginda sanggup bersusah payah meredah air banjir dengan bot penyelamat dalam keadaan yang merbahaya, menyusuri desa-desa untuk melihat kesusahan rakyat jelata.

  

Tuanku Permaisuri Johor memang cukup serasi dengan jiwa baginda Sultan yang berjiwa rakyat dan gemar turun menemui rakyat.  Walaupun riak wajah 'garang' almarhum ayahandanya ada di wajah baginda, namun kemanisan senyuman milik almarhum bondanya sentiasa terukir di wajah baginda. 

Tuanku Sultan Johor amat bertuah mempunyai seorang suri yang anggun dan bijaksana.  Rakyat  Johor juga menumpang tuah kerana mempunyai Permaisuri Negeri yang serba boleh, mesra rakyat dan bijaksana.  

 Biografi 

 DYMM Raja Zarith Sofiah 

Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah binti almarhum Sultan Idris Shah diputerikan pada 14 Ogos 1959  di Hospital Ipoh dan merupakan anakanda ketiga dan puteri kedua kepada almarhum Sultan Idris al Mutawakil Alallahi Shah Afifullah ibni almarhum Sultan Iskandar Shah Kadasallah atau Sultan Idris II, Sultan Perak ke 33. Bondanya ialah almarhum Raja Mazwin binti almarhum Raja Dato' Seri Arif Shah ibni almarhum Raja Dato' Seri Harun al Rashid ibni almarhum Sultan Idris Murshidul Azzam Shah Rahmatullah atau Sultan Idris I - Sultan Perak ke 28).  

Istana iskandariah, tempat Permaisuri RZS dibesarkan  

DYMM Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah juga adalah dua pupu kepada Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah. 

Adik beradik seibu-sebapa baginda Permaisuri ialah:

(1)   YTM Raja Puan Mahkota Perak, Raja Dato' Seri Nazatulshima (1952), 

(2)   YTM Raja Dato Seri  Izzuddin Iskandar Shah (1954), 

(3)   YTM Raja Dato' Seri Iskandar Zulkarnain- Raja Di H

(4)   YTM Raja Dato' Seri Jamil Ariffin (1962). 

 

almarhum Sultan Idris Shah Afifullah (Sultan Perak ke 33)

(ayahanda Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofia)

almarhum Sultan Iskandar Shah Kadasallah (Sultan Perak ke 30)

(nenda Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah)

 

Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah bersama almarhum bondanya Raja Mazwin

Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah bersama kekandanya

 

Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah bersama almarhum bondanya Raja Mazwin 

(mangkat pada 6 Okt 2011)

Permaisuri RZS bersama kekanda dan adinda

bersama almarhum ayahanda dan bonda serta kekandanya

Permaisuri RZS mendapat didikan awal di Sekolah Rendah Datin Khadijah dan Sekolah Raja Perempuan Kalsom, Kuala Kangsar sebelum melanjutkan pengajian menengahnya ke Cheltenham Ladies' College, London.  Kemudian baginda melanjutkan pelajaran ke Somerville College, Oxford dan mendapat ijazah Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies dari University of Oxford in 1983 dan seterusnya ijazah Master of Arts dalam tahun 1986.

  
Sekolah Rendah Datin Khadijah

  
Sekolah Raja Perempuan Kalsom

  
Cheltenham Ladies' College, London

  
Somerville College, Oxford

  

University Oxford

Semasa masih menuntut di University Oxford, United Kingdom baginda dinikahkan dengan Tunku Mahkota Johor, Tunku Ibrahim Ismail ibni Sultan Iskandar Alhaj iaitu pada 22 September 1982.

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Perkahwinan baginda dan  Sultan Ibrahim dianugerahi Allah dengan 6 orang putera dan puteri: 

(1)   Tunku Ismail Idris Abdul Majid Abu Bakar (30 Jun 1984), sekarang adalah Tunku Mahkota Johor, 

(2)   Tunku Tun Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah (1987), 

(3)   Tunku Idris Iskandar Ismail Abdul Rahman (1988), Tunku Temenggong Johor; 

(4)   Tunku Abdul Jalil Iskandar (1990)- Tunku Laksamana Johor (mangkat pada 5 Dis 2015); 

(5)   Tunku Abdul Rahman Hassanal Jeffri (1993), Tunku Panglima Johor; dan

(6)   Tunku Abu Bakar Iman (2001), Tunku Putra Johor. 

 
 

Panggilan kepada Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah yang penuh ialah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah binti almarhum Sultan Idris Al Mutawakil Alallah Shah Afifullah. Pada 23 Mac 2015, sempenan dengan Istiadat Kemahkotaan Sultan Johor ke 5, Raja Zarith Sofiah telah ditabalkan sebagai Permaisuri Johor.

Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah adalah Canselor Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru sejak tahun 2010.  Baginda juga adalah Fellow kepada Pusat Pengajian Bahasa dan Linguistik, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah sebagai Chanselor UTM

 
 
  

Tuanku Raja Zarith Sofia amat mengambil berat ke atas penambahbaikan penggunaan Bahasa Inggeris di kalangan rakyat Malaysia.  Selain Bahasa Melayu dan Inggeris, baginda juga fasih berbahasa Mandarin, Itali dan Perancis.  Baginda juga telah menulis beberapa buah buku kanak-kanak, antaranya  Puteri Gunung Ledang, dan menulis dalam akhbar The Star's "Mind Matters" column.

Tuanku Raja Zarith Sofiah juga amat aktif dalam menggerak dan menyokong pelbagai aktiviti kemasyarakatan dan kebajikan serta organisasi bukan-Kerajaan (NGO).  baginda adalah Penaung  Johor Spastic Children's Association, Tabung Jantung Kelab Rotary Teberau dan Malaysian English Language Teaching Association. Baginda juga adalah Pengerusi Jawatan Kuasa Khidmat Masyarakat, Persatuan Bulan Sabit Merah Malaysia.

Apa kata puteri tunggal baginda;

Mengenai orang yang paling dikaguminya setakat hayatnya, dengan yakin Tunku Aminah menjawab: 

“Bonda saya kerana beliau seorang yang mengambil berat bukan sahaja kepada keluarga, malah rakyat jelata."

"Apa yang paling saya suka tentang bonda ialah beliau menulis sendiri ucapan bagi setiap program yang dihadiri tanpa memerlukan bantuan sesiapa,” tokok Tunku Inah, panggilan mesranya"

 
  

  

Royalty Extraordinaire, that is Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah

With their front page headlines highlighting developments on the massive Sime loss, readers of the country's two main English papers may not have noticed the news report of the speech by Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah, the consort of the Sultan of Johor, which was buried in the inner pages.The occasion of the speech was a conference on 'Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason' held on Nov 16 in Kuala Lumpur.

The prime mover of the meeting in which I participated as a panelist was PCORE, a group that is representative of Malaysians who embrace and share the notion of peace as the way forward to achieve unity and integration.

Credit must go to the PCORE leadership for bringing together a diverse mix of young and older people from different backgrounds to voice their frank concerns on current issues and developments in the country. For me the real star of the conference was Raja Zarith Sofiah. Readers who missed the news item may be interested in the excerpt from the news report of her speech. "In her keynote address at the Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason conference, she described the use of 'pendatang' to describe non-Bumiputeras as "hurtful and ignorant", and that more discussions were needed to address and resolve the gulf between ethnic and religious communities. 

"Rather than simplify and shy away from sensitive issues, we should fight  destructive rhetoric with constructive dialogue. It is shameful when apparently  educated and mature individuals use such terms or suggest fellow Malaysians go back to where they came from"

Describing her own ancestral background as a mix between Sumatran and Peranakan Chinese, she said it was important to recognise the diversity of Malaysian society, brought about by centuries of interracial and interfaith marriages and communication." (New Straits Times, Nov 17, 2010)..   

 

This open and proud acknowledgment of her mixed ancestral background is quite unprecedented. It puts to shame the way in which many of our leaders who have a similar mixed ancestry either try to hide or suppress the inconvenient truth, or engage in flaunting or agitating a mono-ethnic or religious stance as if this has been part of their, and the country's DNA from time immemorial.

Raja Zarith Sofiah's speech was much more than what was reported in the newspapers. It also covered her personal experience and thinking on religions and the importance for Muslims to learn about other cultures and religions and their heritage. 

She spoke from the heart, simply and without the need for any convoluted intellectual argument or high sounding clichés to drive home the importance of cherishing and protecting the country that belongs to all of us - highly or lowly born; brown, yellow or black; and worshipping one, many or no god.  

Readers may not be aware of the wide ranging accomplishments and interests of Raja Zarith Sofiah. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Master's Degree from Oxford University (her BA is in Chinese Studies). Besides Malay and English, she is able to communicate in Mandarin, Italian and French. She is a patron of the arts, an artist and author who has written children's books including Puteri Gunung Ledang. She is also the columnist of The Star's 'Mind Matters' column, and let out that her articles are being put together in book form soon.   

Although I am a republican at heart, logic tells me that we may need the type of monarchy she personifies more than ever to hold the country together and to remind us of our common humanity. With her and other royalty who care for the country in the way she does, there is greater hope that the nation can overcome the racial and religious demons that torment us.

Finally, I should point out that I was privileged to sit at her table where I and others -- during the lunch chit-chat on topics ranging from how the handphone and Skype have transformed our lives to the inconvenience of sleep apnea - learnt that she has sleepless nights thinking about the predicament of our country and our people, and wondering how best she can be of service. The insomnia that troubles her, I am sure, also afflicts all of us concerned about the way ahead for the country.

This account was written by Dr Lim Teck Ghee of the Centre for Policy Initiatives.

Kosmoline: 06 Dec 2010    

 
 
  

The legendary Puteri Gunung Ledang is part of our rich heritage and should not be used to glorify another culture at the expense of our own. RAJA ZARITH IDRIS writes.

MY father used to throw dates and historical anecdotes at me, willing me to catch what he said in mid-air. He told me that I was named after Zaris Gangga from the kingdom of Gangga Negara, which was established in the 11th century at a site where present-day Dinding, Bruas and and Manjung in Perak are. Whether for good or bad, I bear that name still, and hope that my children will name one of their daughters after me one day.

My father also explained why Perak Sultans do not wear mahkota (crowns) at their pertabalan (installation) ceremony.

After the Portuguese captured Malacca in 1511, Sultan Mahmud Shah, the last Sultan of Malacca, established a new court in Johor, and attacked them in 1517, 1520 and 1521. He then sailed to Kampar, in Sumatra, just before he died. An entourage from Perak came to his court and asked for his permission to allow one of his sons to rule Perak. He agreed and commanded his son, Raja Muzaffar Shah, to sail to Perak, and to take with him all the royal regalia that once belonged to Malacca. While sailing to the mouth of the Perak River, Raja Muzaffar Shah's ship became stuck in the mud. Fearing that the ship would capsize because it was too heavy, he tried to lighten it by throwing as many objects overboard as possible. Finally, he threw the mahkota (crown) into the water. By coincidence, the ship then came free and could sail on. When he was made ruler of Perak, Sultan Muzaffar Shah (1528-1549) issued a decree that, from that day on, none of his heirs, when installed as Sultan, could wear a Mahkota.

Despite the loss of the mahkota, the rest of the Malacca royal regalia was still in Sultan Muzaffar Shah's possession. This included the Taming Sari kris, which apparently belonged to Hang Tuah, the famed Malacca a warrior. The Taming Sari is tucked into the bengkong (waist sash) of each Sultan of Perak on the day that he is installed as ruler of the state.

For many centuries now, it has been in the safekeeping of successive Sultans. I remember the times my father allowed me to hold the Taming Sari in my hands. On its golden hilt were rubies of a pale pink colour, like faded flowers. A green enamel was painted onto the gold base of the kris. The blade  was darkly stained, a mixture of shades of brown, grey and deep red. Were the deep, dark reds on the tip of the blade merely rust or are they the stains of the blood of those who were slain by it? History supports the claim of the Perak royal family as direct descendants of the Malacca Sultanate: "Perak's prestige rose considerably when a new dynasty was established by Sultan Muzaffar Shah, a son of Sultan Mahmud Shah, the last ruler of Melaka...

The founding of Perak also signified a further extension of Melaka's Malay culture, for the reign of Sultan Muzaffar Shah ... brought not only refugee members of the Melaka court, but also its customs and traditions."

Historical events are also noted in one of the most respected pieces of Malay literature, the Sejarah Melayu, which has been attributed to Tun Sri Lanang. It was written not just as a historical account but also "to 'set forth the genealogy of the Malay rajas and the ceremonial of their courts so that this can be heard by (the king's) descendants...' " (A History of Malaysia by Barbara Watson Andaya and Leonard Y. Andaya, 1982, second edition 2001.) When I wrote the children's book, Puteri Gunung Ledang (Penerbit Fajar Bakti, 1995), some journalists who reviewed it wondered if I could begin a revival of literature written by those within palace walls, much in the same way that Tun Sri Lanang, a palace courtier, wrote Sejarah Melayu.

Flattering though the comparison may be, I know that nothing that I have written thus far can be compared to Tun Sri Lanang's Sejarah Melayu, which has stood both the test of time and the scrutiny of scholars. My ability to string more than two sentences together is but like the shadow of a grain of rice compared to the bountiful harvest that was Tun Sri Lanang's gift to Malay literature. My main concern in re-telling Puteri Gunung Ledang was that it should remain as Malaysian as possible. Since Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, and because I, too, am Muslim, I did not want to offend others of my faith and so I depicted the Puteri as wearing baju kurung or baju kebaya. I grew to love the princess I had created in words and pictures. Thus, when the locally-produced film Puteri Gunung Ledang portrays the legendary princess as being part of a royal court from another country, I was crushed. Is it so very awful to portray Puteri Gunung Ledang as Malaysian? Was Puteri Gunung Ledang real? We do not know.

She had been given life by word of mouth, from one family to another, from one generation to the next. The legend of Puteri Gunung Ledang belongs to all Malaysians. Most of us are used to the idea that she was a mysterious woman bred, if not born, in this wonderful land we call our home. Artistic licence allows Puteri Gunung Ledang to assume any identity that her creators have chosen for her, and so in the film of the same name, we are told that she came from the kingdom of Majapahit.

Since she was said to have left Majapahit to be near Hang Tuah during Sultan Mahmud's reign, then it places her at or near the time of the Portuguese conquest of Malacca in 1511. The same artistic licence indeed gives the rest of us endless possibilities as regards her real identity. Perhaps she was a member of Portuguese nobility and bore the name Ana Crisitina Gaminha de Azevedo. Perhaps she was one of the many "treasures" that Admiral Zheng He brought from China. Who knows, she and Mahsuri of Langkawi may be of the same bloodline. The present Johor royal family came into power from the time of Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim (18th ruler of Johor) and is proud of the state's heritage, including its store of legends. What the Johor royal family share with the other royal families of Malaysia is pride in successfully establishing a Malaysian rather than a Javanese identity

Even though most of us, as part of kerabat diraja (royal lineage), know that our ancestors came from either Sumatra or Java, we also know that we must adapt ourselves to ever-changing sensibilities and sensitivities. The French saying, Plus ca change, plus ca meme chose describes this necessity to change with the times. For example, after the Melaka Sultans became Muslims, the women of the court wore loosely-fitted baju kebaya or baju kurung rather than bare their shoulders and arms the way that their Hindu ancestors did.

Each royal court has its own Adat Istiadat Istana (palace ceremonies). It seems strange then that none of them were asked to contribute details about such ceremonies when the producers of Puteri Gunung Ledang decided to make a film about the legendary princess. It also beggars belief that "research" was done at a kraton (a Javanese word for palace) in Indonesia, away from the Malaysian istana (palaces) of Kedah, Perlis, Trengganu, Kelantan, Selangor, Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Perak and Johor.

If Malaysian istana ceremonies are to be sniffed at, why then is there such great interest every year as to whom will be conferred the title of "Datuk" by the Sultan of each of the nine states? Why does the title carry so much more weight than an "Encik"? The wife of a "Datuk" becomes a "Datin" and this title also accounts for the decisions of some young women to marry unattractive, balding older men.

For the sake of a love triangle that never happened, we are hoodwinked into believing that a legendary princess of whom our grandparents and parents talked about, is not our own. I believe that all of us bear the responsibility to ensure that Malaysian legends, with or without artistic licence, are not used as vehicles for personal fame nor to glorify the ways of another culture at the expense of our own.

I realise that by putting forth my grievances on paper, I make myself the target for those who think that all Malaysians should be proud of its first multi-million ringgit epic movie. If the same blood of the Melaka Sultans flow in my veins, even if it be just a drop, and even if my ancestors, such as Sultan Mahmud Shah, were awful men, let me say that a great love for my heritage and my country means that I must make a stand, regardless of the criticisms. Keranamu Malaysia -- for you, Malaysia, let not our blood nor those of our ancestors either flow or be shed in vain.

www.taipingdalamkenangan.blogspot.com

 
 

Pada 23 Mac 2015, bersempena dengan Istiadat Kemahkotaan DYMM Sultan Ibrahim ibni almarhum Sultan Iskandar Alhaj sebagai Sultan Johor ke 5 di Istana Besar Johor Bahru, DYMM Raja Zarith Sofiah telah dimasyhurkan sebagai Permasuri Johor.

INi adalah kali pertama Negeri Johor memberikan gelaran Permaisuri kepada isteri DYMM Sultan. Sebelum ini semua isteri (wanita pertama) DYMM Sultan Johor bergelar Sultanah Johor.

 
 

TUANKU RAJA ZARITH SOFIA BER'FACEBOOK'

Di peringkat awal laman ini saya ada menyebut bahawa DYMM Tuanku merupakan permasuri berjiwa rakyat.  Biar pun baginda Permaisuri Johor merupakan satu-satunya permaisuri Sultan (Raja-Raja Melayu) yang 'benar-benar' puteri gahara seorang Sultan juga (Raja-Raja Melayu), namun jiwa baginda jauh lebih rapat bersama rakyat berbanding dengan permaisuri lain yang berdarah rakyat biasa.  Mungkin inilah yang biasa kita dengar sebagai 'akhir zaman'.  Bukan tamat dengan keaktifan baginda yang kerap turun mencemar duli menemui rakyat dalam pelbagai majlis dan situasi, sama ada mengiringi DYMM Sultan atau bersendirian atau bersama anakanda-anakanda baginda- baginda juga meluangkan masa untuk menemui rakyat melalui facebook.

Banyak orang kata, facebook ini membuang masa, orang yang tak ada kerja sahaja yang berfacebook.  Malah banyak persepsi negatif yang menyatakan bahawa facebook merupakan salah satu jalan yang menemukan lelaki dan wanita, membawa kepada hubungan negatif dan seterusnya menimbulkan gejala sosial seperti percintaan haram, hubungan sulit, perzinaan, kelahiran anak luar nikah dan sebagainya.  Seolah-olah tanpa facebook, itu semua tidak berlaku.

Terlalu banyak faedah dari facebook, tak perlulah disenaraikan satu persatu.  PM berfacebook, banyak wakil rakyat berfacebook, banyak kelab-kelab, alumni, persatuan, jabatan, masjid dan pelbagai organisasi menggunakan facebook sebagai alat untuk mendampingi ahlinya.  Selaku seorang permaisuri yang berpendidikan tinggi, lahir dalam istana raja berjiwa rakyat, berkahwin pula dengan putera raja berjiwa rakyat kini menjadi permaisuri/sultanah berjiwa rakyat.

Baginda pasti memikirkan bahawa baginda tidak berpeluang menemui setiap rakyat yang ingin menemui baginda.  Melalui facebook baginda berpeluang mendapat feedback secara langsung dari rakyat, bukan sahaja yang ada dalam negeri Johor, bahkan rakyat Johor di seluruh negara dan juga di luar negara. Mereka dapat berkomunikasi secara terus dengan baginda.

Mungkin, bagindalah satu-satunya Permaisuri yang membuka laman fbnya untuk rakyat jelata.

.........dan betapa gembiranya hatiku, apabila pada 28 Disember 2011 baginda telah 'approved' nama aku dalam laman facebook baginda mencatatkan jawapan ke atas entry aku. Sekali lagi pada 19 Jan 2012. 

Aku amat terharu dengan keprihatinan DYMM Tuanku yang sudi melupakan taraf kedudukan bersama rakyat di laman facebook.

Toharudin Abd Rasid posted to

Assalamualaikum Tuanku, Kami anak-anak Johor Darul Taazim yang bermastautin di luar Johor sentiasa mendoakan agar Allah memelihara dan memberikan kesihatan yang baik untuk Tuanku berdua meneruskan pemerintahan  memayungi rakyat Johor negeri kelahiran kami. Semoga tahun baru 1433 Hijriyah dan 2012 Masehi terus membawa barkat dan rahmat. Menjunjung kasih Tuanku. 

December 28, 2011 at 2:56pm

Raja Zarith Idris

Insya Allah!

December 28, 2011 at 3:07pm

Toharudin Abd Rasid posted to

Setinggi tahniah dan penghargaan di atas kejayaan anakanda DYMM Tuanku, YAM Tunku Abdul Jalil menamatkan latihan dianugerahi pangkat Inspektor melakar sejarah sebagai putera Raja Melayu PERTAMA melalui latihan pegawai polis bersama-sama rakyat biasa. Bukannya sekadar mendapat pangkat Kehormat. Sesungguhnya didikan dari DYMM Tuanku berdua yang melahirkan putera berjiwa rakyat juga. Selamat menjalankan tugas kepada YAM Tunku Abdul Jalil.

January 16, 2012

Raja Zarith Idris

Terima kasih banyak2 diatas ucapan tahniah ini. Semasa latihan dia tidur di satu bilik bersama 30 orang cadet yang lain, berkongsi bilik air, makan apa yang disediakan dikantin.

February 11, 2012

Toharudin Abd Rasid posted to.

Semoga Allah memberikan hidayah kepada semua anakanda Tuanku akan mewarisi sifat dan sikap DYMM Tuanku berdua yang sentiasa prihatin dengan rakyat. Ampun Tuanku.

February 11, 2012

Raja Zarith Idris

Insyallah hendaknya..amin.Terima kasih

3 hours ago·

Toharudin Abd Rashid

Assalamualaikum Tuanku RZS, kalau pepatah ada berkata: "ular menyusur akar tak kan hilang bisanya". Raja yang menyusur di celah rakyat jelata tak kan hilang mulianya. Semakin jauh Tuanku menyusuri kehidupan mereka, semakin tinggi pandangan mereka. Semakin ikhlas doa mereka dan semakin tebal kasih mereka untuk Tuanku. Semoga Allah permudahkan segala urusan Tuanku, Ampun Tuanku.

March 26, 2012 at 6.40

DYMM Raja Zarith Sofiah Idris likes this

DYMM Raja Zarith Sofiah Idris

Insyallah, terima kasih.

March 27, 2012

Toharudin Rashid

Ampun Tuanku. Kami rakyat Johor di perantauan amat terkilan apabila ada seoarng insan yang 'BUTA HATI' membuat komen apabila membaca berita Sultan Johor memenangi tender pembelian No Plat WWW 1. Kami hanya melihat betapa besarnya ke'bigo'an/ke'bingai'an beliau. Andainya DYMM Sultan nak FREE, kami rasa baginda boleh lakukan pada bila-bila masa sahaja. Baginda membeli no tersebut melalui tender- mengikut prosedur Kerajaan. Beliau tidak faham ke bahawa pembayaran tender itu masuk dalam hasil JPJ (Kerajaan) - untuk rakyat juga. Andainya, Kalau baginda menguna wang pendapatan dari Kerajaan, wang tersebut akan masuk dalam Kerajaan, masih ada faedah kepada rakyat. Ini pula telah dijelaskan oleh DYTM TMJ bahawa istana Johor tidak pernah mengambil gaji Kerajaan.  Syukur, DYMM berhati luhur dan tidak membuat apa-apa tindak balas ke atas si BIGO itu. Inilah bangsat Melayu yang telah lupa daratan, demi kuasa demi untuk mengambil hati DAP laknat, sanggup pijak kepala Raja sendiri.

June 8, 2012

Raja Zarith Idris

Saya pun berasa luka hati juga apabila membaca mengenai teguran ini oleh sebab saya tahu sudah banyak yang Tuanku Sultan menderma kepada rakyat tetapi tidak dihebah-hebah ataupun masuk media. Semenjak saya berumahtangga dengan Tuanku Sultan 29 tahun yang lalu, tiap2 tahun Tuanku (semasa itu Tunku Mahkota) menolong orang yang susah pergi keTanah Suci untuk menunaikan Ibadah Haji.

March 9, 2012

August 14th 2015, 06:09am

Assalamualaikum Tuanku Permsisuri Zarith Sofiah. Dengan rendah hati dan penuh keikhlasan saya sekeluarga mengucapkan hari ulangtahun kelahiran ke 56 kepada Tuanku. Semoga Allah swt terus melimpagi rahmat dan kesejahteraan ke atas diri Tuanku, DYMM Sultan serta seluruh kerabat Tuanku.

Sun, 30th August 2015, 12:31pm

Assalamualaikum Tuanku, marilah kita berdoa semoga negara kita aman dari huru-hara, dipulihkan ekonomi dan semoga Allah tarik nikmat pemimpin yang korup dan merosakkan bangsa dan negara. Ampun Tuanku. Kami rakyat/bangsa Johor DT di perantauan amat berbangga dengan pendirian Sultan/Raja kami yang tidak mengikut telunjuk pemimpin politik.

Wed, Sep 2nd, 2015, 07:49am

Waalaikumussalam En Toharudin..terima kasih atas doa saudara..sememangnya menjadi tanggungjawab semua rakyat Malaysia mendoakan yang terbaik untuk keluarga masing2 dan negara Malaysia yang tercinta. Sebenarnya setiap rakyat berperanan untuk menunjukkan pendirian mereka yang positif tetapi perlulah melalui kaedah atau saluran yang baik dan bukan yang akan mendatangkan keadaan yang huru-hara atau boleh memburukkan keadaan lagi.

SEMOGA ALLAH LANJUTKAN USIA DAN MENGURNIAKAN KESIHATAN KEPADA TUANKU!

Helping students realise dreams

By ZAHARAH OTHMAN - 23 August 2015 @ 10:01 am

LONDON: “I am hoping for a ripple effect that will lead to other people helping students who are facing financial problems.

“They have their future and dreams, and we must not allow the current financial crisis to affect them,” said Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah.

She reflected on the fate of Malaysian students overseas as the ringgit continues to take a tumble.

In an exclusive interview with the New Sunday Times, Raja Zarith, who is here on holiday, said she decided to post her concerns about the

students on her official Facebook page.

To her surprise, she received an unprecedented response.

“I realised that something should be done to help them. We know that they are facing problems making the rent or paying for transport and basic necessities. This shouldn’t be allowed to affect their studies.

“These are our future leaders.”

Raja Zarith, known for her empathy and generosity to the less fortunate, said she was amazed by the response she received within hours of her post appearing on Facebook.

Her past visits to the UK had seen her meeting students informally during lunch or tea and to listen to their experiences.

On a post on Aug 20, she wrote: “I am thinking about Malaysian students studying here or in the United States and how they are coping ever since our ringgit dropped. How much do they have (as) spare to buy food after they have paid for their rent and their daily commute?

“How much can their parents or families send them? I am here in the UK on holiday but I am lucky because I can afford the luxuries here.

“To the Malaysians living or studying in the UK, please let me know how I can help. Is there a student body that can help with students who need financial help?”

To date, the post had garnered nearly 20,000 likes, almost 800 comments and was shared by thousands of people.

“I got tearful as I read their comments and I tried to answer them,” she said at a meeting a day after she posted her message.

“These young people come here to study. Their parents have made sacrifices. They didn’t expect this sort of thing to happen. There should be some kind of financial help offered to them.”

While most expressed their gratitude for her thoughtfulness and generosity, with Johoreans especially proud of having her as their permaisuri, many too spoke of problems they are facing, or those faced by children, siblings and friends studying abroad.

Facebook user Ja Sophian wrote: “I received a Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) loan to study in the United Kingdom, and which is in pound sterling. However, I am worried as I have to pay the loan back to Mara in ringgit. I accepted the loan when (the exchange rate) was RM5.16 per pound, but (the exchange rate) now has increased by more than 1 ringgit per pound. In addition, my tuition fees have also increased. It is scary to even think about it.”

Another spoke of how they are helping each other.

Oliver Tse said: “My family and I are based in the south of UK, in Bournemouth. About 4 years ago, we set up a group called the Poole Bournemouth Malaysian club. We have been actively supporting Malaysian students in every way that we can, be it makan gatherings, festivals and more.

“I can understand how students feel being away from home. That is why we have created a family home away from home”.

Some students in the UK, whether on scholarships or through private means, have to resort to working part-time in restaurants and shops to help with the rising costs.

However, their days are numbered. There has been a tightening of immigration regulations and soon, students will no longer be allowed to work.

This was expressed by Syazwin Hussain who wrote: “Even worse for us Malaysian students in UK right now is that we can’t even work any more starting from Sept (because of the new visa regulations).”

Many also wrote about students studying in Russia and the Middle East, where tuition fees are paid in US dollars.

“I have to speak to the right people about how to go about (helping the students). I will need to speak to the University Teknologi Malaysia vice-chancellor and advisers from my own foundation, the Zarith Sofiah Foundation , which was set up in the US to promote understanding of Islam.

“There is a need to find people to manage the funds, and there must be accountability and to not misuse people’s money and people’s trust. That is very important.”

Asked when the students would benefit from the effort, she said: “I am not sure of the time frame (to get the money to the students), but once I fly home, I will have a meeting and then I will see what is advisable.

“Maybe we can start with a fund. Someone has also suggested crowdfunding.

“The other thing I can do is to write to all the big corporations and see their response.

“A little bit from everyone will help,” she said, adding that she hoped that what she was doing would help students in need.

“People might say, why go abroad. I believe students have the right to study abroad.

“We cannot deny that there are universities here, such as Cambridge and Oxford University, with very good reputations.

“I think we should be proud that students are being accepted by universities like Imperial College, Cambridge and Oxford,” said Raja Zarith, who attended Somerville College, Oxford and obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Chinese studies in 1983.

Raja Zarith said she would certainly need to involve the authorities in charge of Malaysian students abroad as well as student societies, such as the United Kingdom and Eire Council of Malaysian Students.

After ringgit drops, Johor queen tells M'sian students abroad: 'Let me know how I can help'

Aug 21, 2015 11:53am

While Singaporeans are celebrating the plummeting ringgit, Malaysians are not faring well at all.

And Malaysian students abroad are majorly affected as the ringgit continues to weaken against major currencies like the US dollar and the pound sterling.

As of Aug 21, RM1 is worth just US$0.24 and £0.15.

Johor queen Raja Zarith Sofiah Idris Shah reached out to Malaysian students especially in the UK and in the US via a Facebook post and told them that she has been thinking about how they are able to cope.

She said: "How much do they have spare to buy food after they have paid for their rent and their daily commute? How much can their parents or families send them?"

The Perak-born royal also acknowledged her privilege in the post.

"I am here in the UK on holiday but I am lucky because I can afford the luxuries here," she wrote.

She added: "To the Malaysians who are living or studying in the UK, please let me know how I can help. Is there a student body which can help with students who need financial help?"

This is not the first time she has been concerned about education and students.

She had previously set up the Raja Zarith Negeri Johor Foundation to raise funds for diverse educational programs.

Source: The Malay Mail Online; http://www.tnp.sg/news/world-news/after-ringgit-drops-johor-queen-tells-msian-students-abroad-let-me-know-how-i-can?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#sthash.xKFM4m3S.dpuf

Responses:

Salim Osman Yes the Johor Queen is unlike other royalty. She is a Queen with a heart. She is also an intellectual in her own right.

Like · Reply · 4 · August 23 at 2:48pm

Fazlur Rahman Bin Kamsani Yes indeed Abang Salim Osman, she has done many good initiatives for the people. May Allah Bless her

Like · Reply · 2 · August 24 at 12:40pm

Menjunjung kasih Tuanku..