Zara Salim Davidson will become Raja Puan Besar of Perak

IPOH: Zara Salim Davidson, a grandniece of first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, is the bride-to-be of the Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah. 

Zara, 34, a chemical engineer by training, heads an oil and gas consultancy based in Kuala Lumpur.  

Raja Nazrin’s bride-to-be: This is Zara Salim Davidson, a grandniece of first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and the bride-to-be of the Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah. Zara, 34, a chemical engineer by training, heads an oil and gas consultancy firm based at KLCC. She is the daughter of prominent lawyer Bill Davidson. Raja Nazrin and Zara will be married in Kuala Kangsar on May 17. — Bernama

The daughter of prominent lawyer Bill Davidson who has practices here and in Kuala Lumpur, Zara had represented Perak in swimming competitions. 

She and the prince, who has been the country’s most eligible royal bachelor for decades, have known each other for about eight years. 

The royal town of Kuala Kangsar is already abuzz with the wedding scheduled to be held at Istana Iskandariah on May 17.  

A day after the solemnisation of their vows, there will be a special proclamation ceremony to bestow Zara with the official title of Raja Puan Besar of Perak.  

The royal wedding reception will take place on May 19. 

Raja Nazrin, 50, is the eldest child of Sultan Azlan Shah and Raja Permaisuri Tuanku Bainun. 

Born in Penang on Nov 27, 1956, he was appointed Regent of Perak when his father became the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1989 to 1994. 

Raja Nazrin holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford, a Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard, and a PhD in Political Economy and Government also from Harvard. 

His research interests are in the areas of economic and political development in South-East and North-East Asia, historical national income accounting and economic growth in developing countries.  

The prince has also written articles and spoken on a wide range of issues including the role of the constitutional monarchy in Malaysia, education, Islam, ethnic relations and economic development.