Malaysians who have met Queen E talk about Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth is the longest-serving British monarch in history. Photo: Andrew Matthews/Reuters

Dr Kiruba Das can never forget the year 1989 when she was seven years old.

Her grandfather, the Right Reverend Tan Sri John Gurubatham Savarimuthu, who was the Bishop then, told her she would be presenting flowers to Queen Elizabeth II when Her Majesty visited St Mary’s Cathedral in Kuala Lumpur.

“I was very excited and nervous. I remember Aunty Inez, a close family friend, helping me practise my curtsy. It was one of my favourite memories and truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience I was so fortunate to have,” said Dr Das, now 39.

Today, the Queen continues to be much loved and respected by Dr Das and millions of people around the world.

On Feb 6 this year, the Queen became the first British monarch in history to achieve Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of reign and service.

“Her long-standing reign as queen is impressive. She is consistent and stable throughout the decades in her faith and to her people in spite of the many challenges we as a whole have gone through,” said Dr Das.Dr Das as a seven-year-old (second from right) presenting flowers to the Queen when Her Majesty visited St Mary’s Cathedral in Kuala Lumpur in 1989. Photo: Dr Kiruba Das

“I admire her tenacity. In her reign, she has seen many governments come and go, changes in leadership, and yet she remains poised and calm and always offers hope,” she added.

Another Malaysian who has met the Queen on a number of occasions is Dr Kishva Ambigapathy, mostly in Buckingham Palace for Commonwealth Meetings in 2016 and 2017 and at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Day.

The chairman and global chief executive of the Commonwealth Youth Innovation Centre was also previously chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Council (2015-2018).

Ambigapathy, 31, describes the Queen as a truly inspiring figure.

“The Queen knew everything and she just has this very natural way of talking.Ambigapathy (front) bearing the royal mace and leading the Queen and members of the royal family at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in March 2016. Photo: BBC

“At the Commonwealth Day reception in 2017, she shared how she remembered meeting me at the Commonwealth Day Service the previous year. Clearly, she has a remarkable memory.

“She asked a lot of really interesting, pertinent questions, ones that only someone genuinely interested in youth development issues would know,” he recalled.

The Queen’s impact on people in the Commonwealth and youths is also remarkable, said Ambigapathy.

“Her Majesty’s immense dedication and passion for duty is truly an inspiration. Even at the age of 96, she continues to commit her life to service for the Commonwealth and beyond.

“Also, Her Majesty’s genuine interest to empower (youth) and recognise the important role young people play, especially grassroots activists, in shaping our societies is indeed heartening,” he said.Ambigapathy (right) has met the Queen on a number of occasions and describes Her Majesty as a truly inspiring figure. Photo: Buckingham Palace

For former Malaysian British Society president Chris Syer, the Platinum Jubilee is a recognition of the Queen’s 70 years of service carried out despite the turmoil within her own family and the nation.

“The Queen has accepted the responsibility and dedicated her life to her people regardless of their class or creed,” said Syer, 81, who has lived in Malaysia for 43 years.

“Her humility and ability to identify herself with her people for whom she has a genuine concern” makes her a well-loved monarch, as is “her dedication and commitment to embracing the role of monarch with a total disregard for herself”, he added.

Syer was posted to Malaya as a young soldier in 1960 and was among those who defended it against Communist insurgents during the Emergency.Syer says Queen Elizabeth's humility and ability to identify herself with her people for whom she has a genuine concern makes her a well-loved monarch. Photo: Chris Syer

Syer was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in January for his service to Britain-Malaysia relations.

“I have met the Queen and other members of the royal family very briefly, all of whom make one feel relaxed. They take a genuine interest in your own life and achievements,” he said.

For Helen Jones, senior leader (students) at British international school Alice Smith, the Queen represents “duty and loyalty”.

“Her tireless work for charity, I think, has the greatest impact on other people.

“When she was 21, the Queen said that she would devote her life to the service of others. I wonder if she could have imagined that 75 years later she would still be working for the good of other people. That's pretty amazing!” said Jones, who has lived in Malaysia for seven years.For Jones, the Queen represents duty and loyalty. Photo: Helen Jones

She said the school has organised a host of activities and events to commemorate the special occasion.

“Over the weekend, I'll be watching the events in the UK with my family. I’m from London, so it will be lovely to watch the scenes from my hometown,” shared Jones.

For Sixth Form student Scott James Grassby, who has been in Malaysia for three years, the Queen represents something greater than ourselves.

“The monarchy has stood from the early 13th century to the current day, which is impressive, and despite the tyranny and strife that the monarchy has faced, it has been able to keep its succession for as long as it has,” he said.

Another thing that inspires him was how Queen Elizabeth joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II when she was a teenager and worked as a mechanic.

“It makes me proud to support the crown and the sovereign state,” said Grassby, who will celebrate the occasion by watching Trooping the Colour, the annual military parade today (June 2).Grassby says the Queen represents something greater than ourselves. Photo: Scott James Grassby

TV host and social media influencer Daniel Tyler, better known as Mat Dan, said the Platinum Jubilee is an important occasion, especially amidst the pandemic and other issues the world is facing, as it brings people together in celebration.

The British Muslim convert, who also goes by the name Mohammad Kareef Daniel Abdullah, is married to a Terengganu native and speaks fluent Terengganu Malay dialect.

He credits the Queen's popularity to her “professionalism and her way of keeping the royal family’s name strong”.

“The Queen also inspires me to keep believing in myself. Even in times of hardship or tragedy, she is still standing there. If she can do it, then so can I,” said Tyler, 33, has lived in Malaysia for 13 years.

He hopes the monarchy will continue to maintain tradition while adapting to the times.A file photo of Tyler in Pulau Kapas, Terengganu. Tyler credits the Queen's popularity to her professionalism and her way of keeping the royal family’s name strong. Photo: Filepic

“Your Majesty, thank you for all your sacrifices over the last 70 years. I firmly believe Britain wouldn’t be where she is today without you.

"The whole world stopped when Prince Philip died, but you stood strong. I can only imagine how hard that was.

"In Malaysia, we have a saying in times of happiness: Bereh boh (meaning well done, in Terengganu Malay). So ‘Bereh boh’ Your Majesty, long live the Queen,” said Tyler, who will celebrate the occasion with a video call to his family in Britain and a nice teh tarik.

A symbol of continuity

Meanwhile in Britain, the official four-day celebration begins today (June 2) with the Trooping the Colour and Horse Guards Parade, as well as various concerts, street parties and pageants.

In Malaysia, a few organisations, including the Rotary Malaysia District 3300 and the Malaysian British Society, have also planned different events to celebrate the occasion.

The British High Commission will be hosting an official reception later this month.

“Throughout her 70-year reign, the Queen has been a symbol of continuity, the constant figure in an ever-changing Britain," said Charles Hay, British High Commissioner to Malaysia.

Hay says the Queen's unwavering devotion to service to the people in the UK and the Commonwealth has made her one of the most recognisable and respected persons in the world. Photo: Filepic

“For me and the vast majority of the British people, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the only monarch we have ever known.

"She has been a fixed point for us through almost the entire post-war period, and recent films and TV series such as The Crown have raised even greater awareness recently of how much change the UK and the world have seen during this time,” he added.

Hay said he was fortunate enough to be posted at the British Embassy in Prague in 1996 when the Queen, along with the Duke of Edinburgh, paid a state visit to the Czech Republic.

“It was extraordinary for me to see the level of interest and affection for them in a country which until a relatively short time before had been part of the communist Warsaw Pact and had no particular connections to the UK.

“Ordinary Czechs responded to her evident warmth and interest in them and their country, and I think that sums up well why Her Majesty has been for many years one of the best-loved monarchs,” said Hay.

Indeed, the Queen has impacted the lives of people both in Britain and the Commonwealth.

“Her Majesty’s devotion to the Commonwealth has been extraordinary and constant. For the UK population, I would say that the relevance of the Commonwealth has ebbed and flowed over the years but the Queen has consistently championed the Commonwealth in all its glorious diversity,” he said.

The Queen’s devotion to duty is also bar none.

“She has carried out thousands of public engagements over the years, from large to small, and I saw an estimate once that some 30% of the British population had seen her in person or met her at an event,” he added.

The sense of constancy she has given to Britain and her people, said Hay, is another example of her positive impact.

“UK’s post-war history has not always been easy, with economic ups and downs, decolonisation, the Cold War, as well as many military conflicts such as the Korean War (which was waging as she ascended the throne), the Malayan Emergency, and wars in the Falklands, Afghanistan and Iraq.

"The constant and unwavering leadership she has given has been an important source of stability and strength for us,” he said.