PRESENT POINT POWER

Go Bottom of page for the Video Clip (57 sec) - Part II -Proclamation as Raja Puan Besar Perak

or Jump to the Final Part III- Bersanding Ceremony Video , Go H E R E

2007/05/18; (Bernama) NST

KUALA KANGSAR, FRI.: Tuanku Zara Salim, who married Raja Muda of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah yesterday, has been proclaimed Raja Puan Besar Perak at a ceremony in Istana Iskandariah, Bukit Chandan, here this morning.

= = = = == = = == = == = = = =

ABOVE: The Zara Salim Davidson "hormat" the seated Sulltan and Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Bainun and BELOW: handing over the letter of proclamation

The proclamation was followed by the call of “daulat, daulat, daulat" by the guests present. Tuanku Zara is the great-granddaughter of the 24th Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah. The title of Raja Puan Besar Perak had been vacant in the last two decades. The proclamation ceremony that began at 10.05am, was attended by close members of the Perak royalty and 150 dignitaries at the Bilik Istiadat (Ceremonial Room) of the palace, with Orang Kaya Temenggong Paduka Raja, the Territorial Chief of Kuala Kangsar Datuk Seri Wan Fathir Wan Hussain reading out the proclamation before Perak’s Sultan Azlan Shah.

The conferment of the title was made under Section 2, Article 35 (1) of the Perak State Constitution which empowers the Perak Sultan to bestow the title on the consort of the Raja Muda. After reading out the proclamation, Wan Fathir cried out “daulat” three times followed by those present and the sound of the nobat (royal court music ensemble). Accompanied by Tunku Soraya Sultan Abdul Halim and Datuk Seri Noraini Jane, Tuanku Zara who was clad in a golden French lace long kebaya, appeared before Sultan Azlan Shah to receive the letter of proclamation. Tunku Soraya is the daughter of the Sultan of Kedah and wife of Raja Kechil Sulung of Perak Raja Datuk Seri Iskandar Dzulkarnain Almarhum Sultan Idris, while Noraini Jane is the wife of the Raja Kechil Tengah Raja Datuk Seri Ashman Shah.

With the proclamation, Tuanku Zara is now addressed as Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Raja Puan Besar Perak Darul Ridzuan, Tuanku Zara Salim. At the ceremony, Sultan Azlan Shah also bestowed Tuanku Zara with the Darjah Kerabat Seri Paduka Sultan Azlan Shah Perak Yang Dihormati (DKSA), the highest award specially given to a member of the royal family. The ceremony was also witnessed by Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Bainun, the Raja Muda, Raja Dihilir Perak Raja Datuk Seri Jaafar Raja Muda Musa, Tuanku Zara’s parents Salim Davidson and Sharifah Azaliah Tan Sri Syed Omar Shahabudin, and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali and his wife.

ABOVE: The Sultan adjusting the slash and BELOW: bestowing the DK award

The title of Raja Puan Besar Perak which is meant for the consort of the Raja Muda Perak had been vacant since two decades ago following the demise of the Raja Muda then, Raja Ahmad Siffuddin Sultan Iskandar Shah, in April 1987. It was last held by Raja Ahmad Siffuddin’s consort Raja Nor Izan Raja Abdul Rashid for three years and after his demise, she used the title of Yang Teramat Mulia. Raja Nor Izan died on July 14, 1998. Tuanku Zara, 34, the youngest of four siblings, graduated in chemical engineering from Nottingham University and had served with Petronas subsidiary Petlin (M) Sdn Bhd as product manager. She had also been vice-president (Partnerships & Alliances) of technology-based Formis (Malaysia) Berhad, listed on Bursa Malaysia.

Before marrying the Raja Muda, Ipoh-born Tuanku Zara was managing director of Kuala Lumpur-based Forthwave Consulting Sdn Bhd which is involved in software development and hydrocarbon technical engineering. The only daughter of well-known lawyer Salim Davidson and Sharifah Azaliah, the sports-loving Tuanku Zara was a Perak state swimmer. Sharifah Azaliah is the daughter of Kedah’s third Menteri Besar and Tunku Aminah Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, who was the sister of Malaysia’s first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. The marriage of Tuanku Zara and Raja Nazrin will strengthen the already close Kedah-Perak royal ties.

Watch the 57 sec Video Clip on

Tuanku Zara Salim being proclaimed Raja Puan Besar Perak – 18 May 07; now addressed as Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Raja Puan Besar Perak Darul Ridzuan, Tuanku Zara Salim

ABOVE: Before the proclamation, known as Zara Salim Davidson

= = == = = = = = =

= = = == = == = == =

ABOVE: After being proclaimed, now addressed as Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Raja Puan Besar Perak Darul Ridzuan, Tuanku Zara Salim.

At the ceremony, Sultan Azlan Shah also bestowed Tuanku Zara with the Darjah Kerabat Seri Paduka Sultan Azlan Shah Perak Yang Dihormati (DKSA), the highest award specially given to a member of the royal family.

= = == UPDATE

Sultans Of Kedah, Selangor To Attend Raja Nazrin's 'Bersanding'

May 18, 2007 19:26 PM

KUALA KANGSAR, May 18 (Bernama) -- The Sultan of Kedah Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah will be attending the bersanding ceremony of the Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah and his consort, Raja Puan Besar Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, at Istana Iskandariah in Bukit Chandan, tomorrow evening. The Kedah Sultan, who is also the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong, will be accompanied by his consort Sultanah Hamimah Hamidun. The wedding which is being held on a moderate scale, will be attended by the two Sultans because they are related to the royal couple.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and wife are also among the 800 royal guests, dignitaries and others invited to the ceremony, which is the culmination of the three-day wedding celebrations that began with the `akad nikah' (solemnisation of marriage) on Thursday and the proclamation of Tuanku Zara as the new Raja Puan Besar Perak today. As for the Cabinet ministers, only those from Perak or those who received their Datukship from the state were invited. Among them are Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Aziz Shamsuddin.

The royal wedding of the year will also be attended by the Raja Muda's close friends from within the country and abroad, including former Indonesian Minister of Environment Nabil Makarim who was Raja Nazrin's colleague at Harvard University in the United States. The bersanding ceremony which is expected to start at 8.50pm, will begin with the arrival of the three Sultans, followed by the royal court attendants bearing the royal regalia and the ladies-in-waiting bearing candles.

The royal couple dressed in traditional royal attire will then make an entrance and head towards the royal dais for the bersanding ceremony followed by the `merenjis' (blessing) ceremony which will begin with the Sultan of Kedah and his consort, Sultan of Perak and Tuanku Bainun and the Sultan of Selangor, followed by the eldest brother of the Sultan of Perak, Raja Datuk Seri Baharum Shah. Seven rounds of canon shot will be fired to mark the occasion at this time. Abdullah, Najib and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will then continue with the `merenjis' followed by Tuanku Zara's parents, Salim Davidson and Sharifah Azaliah Tan Sri Syed Omar Shahabudin. Meanwhile, in Kuala Kangsar's town centre, a feast for 5,000 sponsored by the people's prince Raja Nazrin, will be held at the Arena Square in addition to the Pesta Panjut (Oil Lamp Festival) and an impressive fireworks display.

= = == = Go H E R E for the Last Post (Final Part III) of the Royal Wedding - the Berstanding on 19th May 2007

MORE PICS & Video – Royal Wedding ends in Glittering “Berstanding” Ceremony - Steeped in royal customs; 800 guests - Royalties, Ministers & Datuks Graced Ceremony