Tengku Zahariah: Sweet 60

A birthday bash attended by royalty and friends is filled with fun, meaningful moments.

IT IS usually easier to squeeze blood from a stone than get a birthday girl to admit her age. However, Tengku Zahariah, popularly known as Ku Yah, had no qualms about announcing hers on her invitation card with the number ‘60’ on the cover. Of course it helps when she does not look a day past 40.

The sister of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor, acclaimed for her porcelain fair skin and doll-like beauty, is nicknamed “Joan Collins of Malaysia” for her magnificent jewels, fabulous sense of style and her slight resemblance to the famous British actress.

The royal bash last Sunday night at Concorde Hotel in Kuala Lumpur was organised by Ku Yah’s five children.

The guests of honour were the Sultan of Selangor, the Raja of Perlis, Raja Perempuan Perlis, the Crown Prince of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, Crown Prince of Selangor Tengku Amir, the Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Tengku Syarif Panglima Perlis, Tengku Puan Panglima Perlis, Tengku Meriam of Pahang, Tengku Dara Tengku Naquiah of Negeri Sembilan, Raja Eleena of Perak, Tengku Zatashah of Selangor and close relatives and friends.

As her son Syed Budriz Putra announced, “Mum was born on 20 June, 1951, the year the contraceptive pill and colour TV were introduced. Mum, you have never looked more beautiful today at 60 than at any other time. As Joan Collins said, age is just a number unless of course you happen to be a bottle of wine.”

Daughter Sharifah Rima Irwani recalled how Mum would ask her to be home by midnight – on New Year’s Eve. Sharifah Amilia Safina noted Ku Yah “always found time to play board games with us and the game was never over till she won!”

Raja Sheena Frida was named after Ku Yah’s favourite singer, Sheena Easton! Quipped big brother Syed Budriz, “Lucky Mum was not into Madonna!”

Being a lover of bling, Ku Yah described her children in jewelled terms; Syed Budriz as a diamond, Sharifah Rima Irwani an emerald, Sharifah Amilia an opal, Raja Sheena Frida a ruby and Muhammad Faez a sapphire. All of them went on stage to pay tribute to their gorgeous mother and Muhammad Faez, 21, was so overwhelmed he had to wipe away tears.

Apart from entertaining songs and dances by Ku Yah’s children and six grandchildren, the guests were treated to Bugis dances and other acts such as a fire-eating performance. Raja Perempuan Perlis Tengku Fauziah Tengku Rashid also took to the microphone and later, Rosmah sang three songs as a birthday gift to Ku Yah as guests danced the night away. – KEE HUA CHEE