New Heir & Royal Consort! A DOUBLE PROCLAMATION in PAHANG

Today (January 29) the Malaysian state of Pahang wittnessed a double royal proclamation, the first such in the Sultanate's history. Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, the royal consort of Sultan Abdullah was named as Tengku Ampuan, while their elder son, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim took the position of Tengku Mahkota. Sultan Abdullah Al-Haj, who ascended Pahang's throne two weeks ago, will be sworn in as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia on Thursday (31 January), for a five-year term.

Members of Pahang royalty attend the ceremony: far right the yet-to-be pro Tengku Mahkota, next to him (from right) the Tengku Muda of Pahang, Tengku Abdul Rahman Ibni Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah.

The ceremony began at ~10:30am local time. It took place at Abu Bakar palace's Grand (throne) Hall.
More than 1,500 official guests, state and royal dignitaries were in attendance.
It was broadcasted live on national television.

Tunku Azizah receiving the instrument of proclamation

The Royal Consort was the first to be proclaimed. Tengku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ahmad Shah (the Sultan's brother) read the official letter of appointment, aknowledging Tunku Azizah as the fifth Tengku Ampuan of modern Pahang. The instrument of proclamation was then presented to the Sultan and Tunku Azizah rose to accept it, before sitting back on the throne next to her husband.

Tunku Azizah sits next to her husband

The title of Pahang's Tengku Ampuan is specially accorded to the consort of reigning Sultan, who descends of royal blood, as it is provided by the state constitution. Azizah becomes the first Tengku Ampuan of Pahang in nearly 31 years. The last royal consort who held this title is Sultan Abdullah's late mother, Tengku Ampuan Afzan Tengku Paglima Perang Muhammad (1930-1988). The current royal title of Sultanah Khalsom, wife of the previous Sultan Ahmad Shah, was not accorded by state constitution, but specially created for her (due to her commoner origin).

Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim reading his Surat Ikrar Taat Setia, pledging to be loyal towards his state and people

Next was the proclamation of Heir apparent/Tengku Mahkota. Tengku Hassanal replaced his father who held that title for 44 years (longer, than any other in modern Pahang).

Tengku Hassanal signing the Pledge of Loyalty

Tengku Hassanal paying homage to his father, Al-Sultan Abdullah

Once again the Tengku Muda (Tengku Abdul Rahman) read the official letter (of appointment), followed by the pronouncing and signing of the Pledge of Loyalty (Surat Ikrar Taat Setia) by Tengku Hassanal. It was witnessed by Tengku Muda and the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Pahang (Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail). It was completed with the new Tengku Mahkota paying homage to his father, the Sultan, and sitting (for the first time) to a third throne right from his parents'.

Tengku Hassanal sitting on his throne

Then Tengku Muda read another proclamation. The new Tengku Mahkota was simultaneously appointed Remagku Raja (Regent) of the state of Pahang for the next five years, effective Jan. 31. This decision was made as his father, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah is taking the office of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Federal King/Head of State) in the end of this month. Thereafter the Sultan conferred Pahang's Darjah Kerabat (DK) state award, to his son.

The ceremony ended with a speech by Sultan Abdullah - citing the symbolic character of these apointments -, a (muslim) prayer led by the Sultanate's Mufti, and the performance of state's anthem.

Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Almarhum Al-Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj was born on August 5, 1960. She is the younger daughter of the late Sultan Iskandar of Johor (1932-2010) and his first wife Enche' Besar Hajah Kalsom Abdullah (Josephine Ruby Trevorrow; 1935-2018). Her brother, Ibrahim Ismail, is the current reigning Sultan of Johor.
Azizah took her primary & secondary educations at local schools in Johor Bahru; she married to then Tengku Mahkota Abdullah of Pahang on 6 March 1986, during the term of her father as Malaysia's 8th King (1984-1989). Together they had six children, four sons (the first of whom died on his birth) and two daughters. Two of their children (a son & a daughter) are twins (b. 2000).

Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Ibni Al-Sultan Abdullah was born on 17 September 1995 at Tengku Ampuan Afzan hospital, in (Pahang's) capital Kuantan. He received his primary education there, and continued for secondary education in the UK. He then pursued higher education in Geneva, Switzerland, obtaining a bachelor degree in International Relations last year. Hassanal was created Tengku Panglima Besar of Pahang on June 18, 2018. He is currently undergoing his military studies in UK's Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and is expected to complete them later this year.

Both appointments were decided at a meeting of Pahang's Royal Council last Tuesday, January 22. It was initially said that Tengku Hassanal (who just returned to Pahang yesterday, Jan. 28), will go back to the UK and remain there, until completing his studies. However, after Abdullah election as Yang di-Pertuan Agong (on January 24) and the decision to name Hassanal Ibrahim as Regent (without eg: creating a Regency Council during the latter's absence), it is yet not known who will perform the Sultan's duties in near future. At the time (a week ago) Sultan Abdullah urged the people & royal family to provide guidance to his young son. While the deal of the state regency is a matter of the royal council, Tengku Hassanal's return to England may now be delayed until some time after the departure of his parents to capital Kuala Lumpur, as new King & Queen, on Thursday, January 31.