Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah

Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah
Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Almarhum Al-Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj (Jawi: تونكو حاجة عزيزة أمينة ميمونة إسكندرية بنت المرحوم المتوكل على ﷲ سلطان إسكندر الحاج; born 5 August 1960) is Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen consort of Malaysia) and the Tengku Ampuan (Queen consort) of Pahang.
Tengku Ampuan is a title reserved for the consort and first wife of the current ruler or sultan, of noble birth, as enshrined in the Pahang State Constitution. She is the consort of Al-Sultan Abdullah of Pahang. She is serving as Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia from 2019, during her husband's reign as Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the Supreme Ruler) of Malaysia.
The installation on 30 July 2019 has yet another historical significance because Al-Sultan Abdullah and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, are the children of sultans who have been elected as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Background
Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah is the third daughter and princess of the late Sultan of Johor Sultan Iskandar and his first wife Enche' Besar Hajah Khalsom binti Abdullah (née Josephine Ruby Trevorrow). Her brother is the current Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim. She received her early education at Sekolah Taman Kanak-Kanak Tunku Ampuan Mariam Johor Bahru from 1962 to 1966, Sekolah Perempuan Rendah Sultan Ibrahim, Johor Bahru and continued her secondary education in Sekolah Tun Fatimah, Johor Bahru from 1973 to 1979. From 1980 to 1986, she studied at Maktab
Perguruan Temenggong Ibrahim, Johor Bahru and Political Science and Sociology at National University of Singapore (NUS).
Family
She married her husband Al-Sultan Abdullah of Pahang who is the fourth child of Sultan Ahmad Shah by his first wife, Tengku Ampuan Afzan. The solemnisation ceremony of the royal couple was held on 6 March 1986 at the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, Johor Bahru and the 'Istiadat Membatalkan Air Sembahyang' was held at the Istana Bukit Serene. She was then proclaimed as Tengku Puan (Crown Princess) of Pahang in 1986. They have four sons and two daughters together. She is the first wife of Al-Sultan Abdullah, his second wife is the actress Julia Rais.
Sons
Late His Highness Tengku Ahmad Iskandar Shah, born and died on
His Royal Highness Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, the Tengku Mahkota (Crown Prince) and Regent of Pahang (shortly Tengku Hassanal) born at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, Kuantan on
His Highness Tengku Muhammad Iskandar Riayatuddin Shah, the Tengku Arif Bendahara (shortly Tengku Muhammad) born on
His Highness Tengku Ahmad Ismail Muadzam Shah, the Tengku Panglima Perang (shortly Tengku Ahmad) born on , twin with his sister Tengku Afzan
Daughters
Her Highness Tengku Puteri Afzan Aminah Hafidzatullah, the Tengku Puteri Raja (shortly Tengku Afzan), born on , twin with her brother Tengku Ahmad
Her Highness Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah Athiyatullah, the Tengku Puteri Raja (shortly Tengku Jihan), born on
Activities and interests
Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah has a deep interest in craftwork such as needlework and weaving. She has given new life to Tenun Pahang (Pahang Weaving) and popularised the art as Tenun Pahang Diraja (Royal Pahang Woven Fabric). Its development is supervised closely by the Badan Penasihat Pembangunan Tenun Pahang Diraja (Tenun Pahang Diraja Advisory Body).
She has also set up the Institut Kemahiran Tenun Pahang Diraja Tengku Ampuan Besar Meriam Tengku Ampuan Besar Meriam Tenun Pahang Diraja Skills Institute) to train youth in uplifting the Royal Pahang Weaving at the Cultural and Craft Complex of Pulau Keladi Pekan, Pahang in 2010 in addition to founding the Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja (Tenun Pahang Diraja Foundation).
Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah has also founded the Tenun Pahang Diraja project at Penor Prison, Pahang. She has also established a company producing and selling woven fabric branded as CHEMINAHSAYANG. She is skilful in needlework, knitting, cross stitch and embroidery. These God-given talents have proven inspirational to many womenfolk. She has generously shared her skills with the establishment of sewing clubs in Kuantan in the early 1990s to teach the finer art of needlework. Her initiative to establish a needlework centre through the Pertubuhan Perkumpulan Perempuan (Women's Institute) in 2006 opened avenue for women to generate income through needleworks.
She is also known for her culinary skills. Her passion for cooking led her to set up a cooking school under the Women's Institute of Pahang, Sekolah Masak Tunku Azizah, as well as publish a recipe book entitled 'Air Tangan Tengku Puan Pahang' in 2005 and two other recipe books entitled Air Tangan Tengku Puan Pahang - Masakan Tradisional Pahang' and Air Tangan Tengku Puan Pahang - Manisan Tradisional Pahang' in 2018. She was also appointed as the Royal Patron of Persatuan Jurumasak Pantai Timur dan Malaysia.
Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah is also active in the Girl Guides Association and has been appointed to several positions locally and internationally. Amongst them are President of the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia, Pahang Branch, and Deputy President of the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia from 1999 to 2011.
In 2005, she was appointed as Royal Patron of the Friends of Asia Pacific WAGGS (FAPW) with membership of 27 countries in the Asia Pacific region. Due to her commitment in empowering women, she was appointed as President of Southeast Asia and the Far East Region, International Rural Women's Association from 2010 to 2016. Prior to this, she was Deputy President of the United Nations International Rural Women's Association Committee from 2007 to 2010. As Board Member of the Olave Baden-Powell Society, a well-established women's organisation around the world, she is determined to develop the potential of young girls and women to the international arena through giriguiding.
In 1989, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah was appointed as President of the Women's Institute of Pahang, the first women's organisation established in the country. She led the association onto the world stage and registered to the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW), United Nations with 10 million members from 70 countries worldwide. As the Regional President and Deputy President of the Associated Country Women of the World, United Nations, she has attended five conferences in Tasmania, Australia; Arkansas, United States; Finland; India; United Kingdom; and in Southeast Asia and the Far East region. She was also nominated as candidate for the post of President of the Associated Country Women of the World, but had to withdraw from the election in April 2019 in Melbourne, Australia due to present commitments and responsibilities.
She established the Tunku Azizah Fertility Foundation (TAFF) in 2004 to help women with problems in conceiving children. As many as 493 couples have received fertility treatments that are fully sponsored by the foundation and 115 babies were delivered from these procedures.
Patronages
Co-founder and Patron of Royal Pahang Weave Foundation (Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja)
Royal Patron of Prison Arts and Crafts Malaysia
Constitutional Head of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
Chancellor of the Berjaya University College
Chancellor of the University College of Yayasan Pahang (UCYP)
Patron of the Girl Guides Association Malaysia
President of the Girl Guides Association of Pahang.
President of the Pahang Women's Institute (WI).
Founder & Patron of the Tunku Azizah Fertility Foundation (TAFF).
Awards and recognitions
She has been awarded :
Honours of Pahang
:
Member 1st class of the Family Order of the Crown of Indra of Pahang (DK I)
Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP)
Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP)
National and state honours
:
Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN) (11 July 2019)
:
Member First Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I)
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ)
Foreign honours
:
Senior (Laila Utama) of the Most Esteemed Family Order of Laila Utama (DK)
Places named after her
Several places were named after her, including:
Hospital Tunku Azizah in Kuala Lumpur
SK Tunku Azizah, a primary school in Kuantan, Pahang
Masjid Tunku Azizah Iskandar, a mosque in Bentong, Pahang
Ancestry
References
1960 births
Living people
Royal House of Pahang
Malaysian people of Malay descent
Malaysian people of English descent
Malaysian people of British descent
Malaysian people of Chinese descent
Malaysian Muslims
Pahang royal consorts
Malaysian royal consorts
First Classes of the Royal Family Order of Johor
Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor
Queens consort of Malaysia
Recipients of the Order of the Crown of the Realm
First Classes of the Family Order of the Crown of Indra of Pahang
Daughters of monarchs