IPOH: The Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah's birthday today may be scaled down in terms of scale and grandeur, but it will nevertheless be a significant ceremony which marks the first celebration for the sultan as the state’s new ruler.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the sultan, who was enthroned as the 35th ruler of Perak in May, had always stressed on the importance of moderation, even with regards to such an auspicious occasion.
“Our sultan is a man of principle. He does not want extravagant ceremonies that could burden the people and lead to a waste of public funds.
“He even advised government officials to not waste money to welcome him when he visits their areas,” said Zambry in a special interview recently, held in conjunction with the sultan's birthday.
Zambry said when the ruler visited his rakyat, especially those affected by adversities such as floods, he would dress up casually and preferred to do away with protocols.
“As the menteri besar, I am proud to work under the guidance of the sultan, who is always looked up to by the executive councillors and government servants in their roles to give their best to the people,” he said.
Zambry said the people in Perak were very proud to have a charismatic sultan who always carried himself with great humility.
He said Sultan Nazrin, who is also a graduate of the prestigious University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and Harvard University in the United States, had also been appointed as the co-chairman of the United Nations High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing in May.
“This is a huge recognition, not only for Perak but also for the whole country,” he said, adding that the Sultan was known for his integrity and a respected figure in the international arena.
Since education is also close to the sultan's heart, Zambry said the state government had made education as one of the main thrusts in the state’s development, with various programmes currently taking place to help improve the quality of students and graduates from the state.
“Hopefully, our children will be inspired to achieve high academic excellence like our sultan,” he said.
Zambry said Sultan Nazrin also led a healthy lifestyle and would join the people in various sporting activities such as cycling and jungle trekking.
“During these activities, the sultan would usually mingle with the rakyat to find out about their worries and troubles,” he said.
As a scholar, he said Sultan Nazrin always stressed on the need to have a good balance between development and environment conservation and believed in sustainable development.
“He always reminds us that while pursuing development, we should not forget our responsibility to protect the flora and fauna for the future generations.
“Some of his ideas have also been included in our masterplan towards achieving sustainable development in the state,” he said.
Zambry said Sultan Nazrin has also visited the Royal Belum State Park in Gerik recently and later launched the wildlife crossing viaduct there, in his efforts to raise awareness on the many environmental concerns.
Meanwhile, state secretary Datuk Seri Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan yesterday said the main event for the sultan's birthday celebrations (Oct 23 to April 30) was the investiture ceremonies at Balairong Seri, Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar today, Dec 12 and Dec 19.
He said on those dates, all government buildings as well as private and public premises should fly the state flag.
On Jan 11, he said the sultan would also announce the creation of a new district, Muallim, which covers a 93,000ha area in Tanjung Malim.
He said Sultan Nazrin was also scheduled to officiate several buildings and facilities including Tenaga Nasional Berhad Jana Manjung 4 power plant on Jan 4; Communications and Multimedia Ministry's RTM Perak integrated complex (Jan 9) and Kampar District Council headquarters (March 1).
On Nov 20, a thanksgiving and prayer ceremony was held at Masjid Ubudiah in Kuala Kangsar, while a religious forum is scheduled to be held at the Perak Darul Ridzuan administrative complex here on Jan 25.
As for sport activities, the Larian Hari Keputeraan Sultan Nazrin will take place in Kuala Kangsar on Sunday, while a tenpin bowling tournament is slated for Dec 20 here.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the late deputy public prosecutor Kevin Anthony Morais are among the 39 recipients of the main state awards in conjunction with Sultan Nazrin’s birthday today.
Zahid will be the first person to receive the Darjah Seri Paduka Sultan Nazrin Shah (SPSN) from the 35th ruler of Perak,which carries the title “Datuk Seri Diraja”.
Morais, who will be conferred the Darjah Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP) that carries the title “Datuk”, is among the six towering figures who will receive the state award posthumously.
The other five recipients are Umno founder Datuk Sir Onn Jaafar; Perak first Menteri Besar Datuk Panglima Bukit Gantang Abdul Wahab Toh Muda Abdul Aziz; nationalist and Islamic thinker Dr Burhanuddin Al-Helmy; student activist and educationist Aminuddin Baki and former Perak police chief Tan Sri Khoo Chong Kong, who was shot dead by communist agents in Ipoh in 1975.
Onn and Wahab will be conferred the Darjah Seri Paduka Cura Si Manja Kini (SPCM); Burhanuddin and Aminuddin the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak (SPMP) while Khoo the Darjah Seri Panglima Taming Sari (SPTS).
Both SPCM and SPMP carry the title “Datuk Seri” while SPTS brings the title “Datuk Seri Panglima”.
Another three SPMP recipients are Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin; Universiti Malaya Board of Directors chairman Tan Sri Arsyad Ayub and Securities Commission chairman Datuk Ranjit Singh Ajit Singh.
Army chief General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Nor is another recipient of the SPTS.
Sultan Nazrin will also confer the Darjah Datuk Paduka Cura Si Manja Kini (DPCM), which also carries the title “Datuk”, to state legal adviser Rohana Malek; state Human Resources, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya and Orang Besar Jajahan Larut Matang and Selama Wan Mohd Isa Wan Mohd Razali.
Twenty other people who will also receive the DPMP include National Heart Institute consultant cardiologist Dr Azmee Mohd Ghazali; Malaysia Airlines executive vice-president Raja Zamilia Raja Mansur; Orang Besar 16 Perak Zainon Kamar Zainal Abidin; Berita Harian group editor Datuk Mahfar Ali; religious preacher Datuk Mohd Kazim Elias; Perak Tengah district officer Mad Dan Hassan and Malaysian Ambassador to Oman Umardin Abdul Mutalib.
Sultan Nazrin will also give 663 state awards and medals, with 15 Darjah Paduka Cura Si Manja Kini; Darjah Paduka Mahkota Perak (41); Darjah Ahli Cura Si Manja Kini (14); Darjah Ahli Mahkota Perak (170), Pingat Pekerti Terpilih (214), Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (205) and Pingat Lama Perkhidmatan (4).