Regal elegance

Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria (left) showing Sultan Sharafuddin old court cases record books after the opening of the new Klang Court Complex in October this year. On the right is Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin Abdul Rahman and Chief Justice’s wife Toh Puan Robiah Abd Kadir.

THE people of Selangor were pleasantly surprised and happy when Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah married on Aug 31 this year.

Sultan Sharafuddin married television personality Norashikin Abdul Rahman in a private ceremony at Istana Alam Shah, Klang.

Norashikin was proclaimed as the Tengku Permaisuri Selangor on Sept 8 and it was decreed that she would be known and addressed as Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tengku Permaisuri Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin.

Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, 45, was a former Malaysia Airlines stewardess before joining RTM as a news presenter.

She has two children – Nur Amanda, 17, and Adam Salleh, 14 – from a previous marriage.

The first event Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin attended with the Sultan was the Aidiladha prayers at Masjid Diraja Tengku Ampuan Jemaah on Sept 12. Dressed in a black robe and headscarf, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin was a picture of regal grace. A few weeks later, when she accompanied the Sultan on a visit to a senior citizens’ home in Shah Alam, one of the residents spontaneously hugged her.

Sultan Sharafuddin and Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin spent some time with Nabila Abdul Rashud, 16, during a visit to SCA SFT in Petaling Jaya in October this year.

“She is very pretty. She reminds me of my granddaughter who is also called Norashikin,” said 77-year-old Salasiah Karim, who lives at Bait Al-Mawad­dah home for the elderly.

Recently, an animal welfare group AnimalCare, which advocates the neutering of street and rescued animals, received a contribution from Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin.

“Her Royal Highness donated RM10,000 to AnimalCare for the neutering of street animals.

“We are honoured, touched and humbled by Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin’s kindness towards our community animals that are often neglected,” said AnimalCare founder Dr Chan Kah Yein.

Other animal welfare groups are also thankful for the contribution and awareness towards the need for street animals to be neutered.

Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) project manager Melinda Joy Gomez said it was very comforting when she learned of the Tengku Permaisuri’s contribution towards the cause.

“We hope Her Royal Highness will continue to help us look out for the welfare of unfortunate street animals,” she said.

SPCA Petaling Jaya secretary Roselin Tan Sri Mazlan concurred and hoped Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin’s interest in the welfare of street animals will be the beginning of a new era in animal welfare matters in Selangor.

Sultan Sharafuddin and Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin watching closely as 72-year-old Zainas Mat Jadan makes handicraft after the opening of Bait-Mawaddah Elderly Care Center at Jalan Kebun Section 30 Shah Alam in September this year. Looking on are Dr Ungku Ahmad Ameen Ungku Mohd Zam (third from right) from Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital and Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (right).