Tunku Azizah has a soft spot for Orang Asli community

By Hasnah Jusid

KUANTAN, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Although born with a golden spoon and raised in a royal family laced with protocols, it has never stopped this princess, born on Aug 5 1960 at Istana Bukit Stulang, Johor Bahru, from helping the people regardless of race, religion and social status.

Her willingness to help, especially those affected by disasters, and sincerity has made Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, who was proclaimed as the fifth Tengku Ampuan Pahang today, the ‘People’s Pearl’, especially to the people of Pahang.

According to Pahang State Museum Corporation general manager Datuk Ahmad Farid Abd Jalal, the fourth child of Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Almarhum Sultan Ismail and Enche’ Besar Hajah Kalsom Abdullah, never found it awkward mingling with the people, including the many Orang Asli in the state.

Tunku Azizah addresses them as ‘Our People’ to accord them respect and show that they hold the same position as people of other races in the state.

“I still remember Tunku Azizah once wanted to produce a book, titled ‘Air Tangan Tengku Puan Pahang’. She instructed me to ensure that the Orang Asli villages were made the main locations and an important agenda in her tour to 11 districts in the state to collect the traditional cooking recipes of Pahang.

“The tour took nearly a year and we went to every district, taking into account all the historic Orang Asli areas and traditional villages. At times, we would visit up to four Orang Asli villages in one district.

“Tuanku never once looked down on the Orang Asli...she would hug and kiss them, eat the food served by them and was never picky,” he said.

Her perpetual smile, motherly affection and penchant for setting aside protocol further endeared her to the Orang Asli, including the children, who were comfortable welcoming her to their villages despite their hardship.

“The people, including the Orang Asli, always look forward to meeting her. They can see that her sincerity is genuine. I am not trying to curry favour, but that is what you can feel when she meets the people.

“She really gives her all...with the villagers there’s no protocol, she doesn’t mind sitting on the floor,” he said.

Tunku Azizah’s close rapport with the Orang Asli can also be seen when she happily mingles with them after the cooking activities.

He said that it was customary after the cooking sessions that Tunku Azizah would be feted to a special Orang Asli dance welcoming visitors, called tarian sewang, apart from being served with various traditional food.

Meanwhile, Pekan district’s Pertubuhan Perkumpulan Perempuan (WI) chairman Datuk Melati Ali said Tunku Azizah, who is also the state WI chairman, also instructed all WI districts to monitor the activities and development of Orang Asli WI branches in their areas.

“Tuanku wanted attention to be given to all aspects of family development among the Orang Asli, including to sewing, cooking, health, economy and embroidery,” he said.

He said she wanted the Orang Asli to be given equal attention and opportunity in every aspect so that their standard of living could be raised and, at the same time, they would have their own skills.

“That is why Tuanku always meets and holds activities with the Orang Asli through activities organised by WI, like cooking and mat weaving,” he said.

-- BERNAMA