By Ainul Huda Mohamed Saaid
KUALA LUMPUR: The installation of Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah as Malaysia’s 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on July 30 will take place in a glittering ceremony infused with culture and traditions that symbolise the splendour of the constitutional monarchy system practised by this nation.
On this historic occasion, the rakyat will get the opportunity to see the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajjah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah dressed up in their resplendent and finely-stitched ceremonial attire.
Preceding the arrival of the King and Queen is the royal procession comprising “warriors” and the lady-in-waiting bearing the royal regalia.
Similar to other countries with monarchs like England and Japan, Malaysia has preserved its institution of monarchy and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is acknowledged as the supreme head of state. Malaysia’s monarchy also has its own regalia that has been passed on from ruler to ruler since the nation’s independence.
According to historical records, the rulers took their royal regalia with them to wars and on their hunting expeditions and travels. Among the items deemed symbolic to the rulers are their weapons, attire, medals and crown.
During the installation ceremony on July 30, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will wear the official ceremonial dress, namely the Muskat, complete with the royal headdress, buckle and short dagger which are all part of royal regalia.
Royal attire
The Muskat is a long black robe adorned with golden embroidery and its design is inspired by the traditional outfit of the people of Oman and Kedah’s ‘baju sikap’, the official dress of the state officials.
The Muskat is the official attire of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and is only worn on certain occasions, such as the installation ceremony of the Agong, His Majesty’s birthday, during his official visits to the states throughout Malaysia and at the opening of Parliament sessions.
It was first worn by the third Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the late Tuanku Syed Putra ibni Al-Marhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail, during his installation ceremony in 1960 and the tradition has continued to date.
There is something special about the Muskat that will be worn by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah during his installation ceremony as its design is inspired by the Muskat worn by the Agong’s late father Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah when he was installed as seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1979.
According to the Grand Chamberlain (Datuk Paduka Maharaja Lela) Azuan Effendy Zairakithnaini, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had intended to wear his father’s Muskat but the size did not fit him.
Royal headdress
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong will also wear the royal headdress known as the Tengkolok Diraja made of black songket and embroidered with gold thread.
Interestingly, on July 30 the Agong will wear the same tengkolok worn by his father when he was installed as the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The tengkolok is folded and tied in the ‘Dendam Tak Sudah’ style that originated from Negeri Sembilan.
Affixed at the front of the royal headdress is an ornament — made out of platinum — in the shape of a crescent and a 14-pointed star with Malaysia’s coat of arms in its centre.
Royal buckle, short dagger
Part of the King’s ceremonial attire is the Pending Diraja (Royal Waist Buckle) and Keris Pendek Diraja (Royal Short Dagger).
The buckle is made of pure gold and decorated with rubies with an engraved centrepiece featuring Malaysia’s crest.
The belt is made of ribbed silk and features floral motifs embroidered in gold thread.
The Keris Pendek Diraja is made of steel sourced from old daggers and it features a hilt and sheath made of ivory and engraved in gold.
The hilt is known as the ‘Hulu Pekaka’ and is shaped like the head of the legendary bird Garuda.
Like the Keris Panjang Diraja (Royal Long Dagger), the Keris Pendek Diraja is only worn by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Long dagger
The Keris Panjang Diraja is the symbol of power and authority.
According to Azuan Effendy, this keris symbolised the power source and centralisation of power entrusted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
On the day of the installation, the Grand Chamberlain will present the Keris Panjang Diraja to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and His Majesty will proceed to remove the sheath and kiss the keris.
The dagger’s hilt and sheath are covered in gold with the emblem of Malaysia and that of the 11 states of Peninsular Malaysia engraved on the crosspiece.
The blade is forged from steel taken from 11 keris from the 11 states and the hilt is shaped like a horse’s hoof and features decorations resembling the ‘jering’ fruit.
Royal sceptres
The royal sceptres, namely Cogan Alam (Sceptre of the Universe) and Cogan Agama (Sceptre of Religion) are also part of the royal regalia.
Cogan Alam is a silver mace measuring 162.66 centimetres in length. At the head of the mace is an orb on which a crescent and a 11-pointed star made of gold are surmounted, symbolising Islam as the core religion of this country.
The orb is also decorated by the crests of the 11 states in the peninsula that are also made of gold and supported by four tigers which symbolise bravery. The shaft itself features six stalks of paddy carved in gold.
Cogan Agama, meanwhile, is 155.04 cm long and is also made of silver. It consists of a large, conical-shaped head with a five-pointed star made of gold mounted on a long shaft. Quranic verses are embossed on the head and shaft.
Royal tiara, necklace
The Gendik Diraja (Royal Tiara) and Kalung Diraja (Royal Necklace) form part of ceremonial attire of the Raja Permaisuri Agong during the installation ceremony of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and on other royal occasions.
The Royal Tiara is made of platinum and encrusted with diamonds, featuring the traditional ‘awan larat’ motif. Set at the centre of the tiara are a crescent and star, also made of platinum.
The tiara was specially designed so that it can be taken apart to form a locket and brooch.
The Royal Necklace, meanwhile, is made of platinum and fully studded with diamonds. The necklace can also be taken apart to form a pair of earrings and ear studs, and a brooch.
Ancient weapons of war
Also part of the royal regalia are the weapons that were used by the rulers in the past, such as the Cokmar (War Club), Pedang (Sword), Keris Panjang (Long Dagger) and Sundang Diraja (a type of keris).
The Cokmar consists of a pair of maces featuring a short staff and a dome-shaped head. Made of silver, each mace is 81.32 cm in length.
The Keris Panjang and Sundang have carved silver-coated hilts and sheaths.
Other symbols of royalty that play an important role at official ceremonies are the seven-metre long Payung Ubur-Ubur Kuning (Yellow Dome-Shaped Umbrella) and Tombak Berambu (a type of spear).
The umbrella is made of yellow silk and features a 11-pointed star and crescent on its top. The blade of the Tombak Berambu is forged from the metal of ancient spears used all over the peninsula. – Bernama
