Proposal came as a surprise

BY ANTHONY TAN and IAN MCINTYRE

PATTANI: Kelantan prince Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra Sultan Ismail Petra proposed to Kangsadal Pipitpakdee three months ago, said Kangsadal’s father Vairoj Pipit-pakdee.  

The 62-year-old Vairoj, who also goes by the royal name of Tengku Norudin Tengku Muda, said a relative of the Kelantan Raja Perempuan went to the Yamu Palace here to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage on behalf of the prince. 

“I was surprised by the proposal and I told the relative that the prince should get to know my daughter better first,” he said here yesterday. 

FAMILY PORTRAIT: An undated picture of Kangsadal (seated second from left) and her family.

He then suggested that the wedding be held next year so that they could know each other better. 

However, he said the Kelantan royalty wanted the wedding to be held earlier. 

On Friday, The Star reported that the Tengku Mahkota would be marrying the 24-year-old daughter of a former Pattani MP. 

She will be known as Tengku Zubaidah after the marriage. 

Recalling how his daughter met the 35-year-old prince, Vairoj said they first met at his cousin's wedding at the Yamu Palace two years ago but the two did not speak to each other. 

“They met again at another wedding in Bangkok eight months ago,” he said. 

Vairoj said his family was of royal descent as he was the grandson of the King of Yamu district here,  

In Kota Baru, Syed Azhar reports that the people of Kelantan have expressed joy that their much-loved Tengku Mahkota is finally ending his bachelor days.  

Many interviewed said they were happy that the future Sultan was getting married.  

They pointed out that he was the only Tengku Mahkota in the country who was still single.