Tuanku Aishah Rohani takes her place as Tunku Ampuan Besar

TUANKU Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud was recently installed as the 11th Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negri Sembilan at the Balairong Seri (Throne Room) Istana in Seri Menanti in a ceremony steeped in royal splendour, tradition and local custom.

Looking resplendent in a beautiful pale gold traditional outfit, Tuanku Aishah Rohani was bestowed the title by her consort, the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

She knelt before Tuanku Muhriz who then placed a glittering tiara on her head, signifying her new role which carries the title Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tunku Ampuan Besar Negri Sembilan.

The ceremony, held on April 14, holds special meaning for the royal couple not only because Tuanku Muhriz’s mother Tunku Durah Tunku Besar Burhanuddin was appointed Tunku Ampuan in a similar ceremony on the same date in 1961 but also because the couple are due to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary on Apr 25.

Witnessed by local chieftains Datuk-Datuk Penghulu Luak Tanah Mengandung, the customary ritual was accompanied by an eight-gun salute. Guests were later treated to a sumptuous lunch at the Banquet Hall.

This is the first time many of the guests were able to witness the traditional ceremony as it was last held more than four decades ago on July 19, 1967, when Tunku Najihah Tunku Besar Burhanuddin was appointed the Tunku Ampuan.

Present and decked out in finery were members of the Negri Sembilan royalty, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and wife Raja Datin Seri Salbiah Tengku Nujumudin.

The nomination of Tuanku Aishah Rohani as the candidate for Tuanku Ampuan Besar of Negri Sembilan was made by Datuk-Datuk Penghulu Luak Tanah Mengandung comprising Luak Ulu Muar, Luak Gunung Pasir, Luak Inas, Luak Terachi and Luak Jempol after a meeting with the Orang Empat Istana on Jan 21.

A member of the Trengganu royalty, Tuanku Aishah Rohani, 57, was born in Batu Gajah, Perak, on June 19, 1952.

She is the daughter of the late Tengku Seri Utama Raja Tengku Besar Mahmud Sultan Zainal Abidin III and Almarhum Tok Puan Zainun Meriam Su Mahmud.

She had spent her formative years mostly in Perak, Pahang, Trengganu and later Kuala Lumpur.

Growing up, Tuanku Aishah Rohani attended Sekolah Rendah Sultan Sulaiman, Kuala Terengganu, before continuing her secondary education at Sekolah Convent Taiping, Perak, and Sekolah Convent Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur.

A former employee of First National City Bank (now known as CitiBank), it was there that a young Tuanku Aishah Rohani met her future husband Tuanku Muhriz in 1972.

They tied the knot on April 25, 1974, and are blessed with three sons – Tunku Ali Redhauddin, 32; Tunku Zain Al-Abidin, 27; and Tunku Alif Hussein Saifuddin Al-Amin, 25.

Despite her busy schedule, Tuanku Aishah Rohani, a member of the Inner Wheel Club, still finds time to participate in charitable causes.

She is also a member of the Kuala Lumpur Speakers’ Club.

Having attended courses on child development, she is also well-versed in the subject of childcare with issues related to special children close to her heart.

Artistically inclined, her varied interests also include crocheting as well as ceramic and porcelain art.

Previous Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Darul Khusus

1. Cik Seni Binti Penghulu Na’am (1773-1795)

2. Tengku Aishah Binti Raja Melewar (1795-1808)

3. Tengku Puan Ngah Binti Raja Hitam (1808-1824)

4. Tengku Puan Intan (1830-1861)

5. Cik Normah (1861-1869)

6. Cik Puan Halimah (1872-1888)

7. Tengku Puan Cik - Tunku Ampuan Seri Menanti (1888-1898)

- Tuanku Ampuan Negeri Sembilan (1898-1933) 8. Tunku Kurshiah Binti Tunku Besar Burhanuddin (1933-1960)

9. Tunku Durah Binti Tunku Besar Burhanuddin (April 14, 1961 - April 14, 1967)

10. Tunku Najihah Binti Tunku Besar Burhanudin (July 19, 1967 - Dec 27, 2008)

11. Tuanku Aishah Rohani Binti Tengku Besar Mahmud (April 14, 2009)