KUALA PILAH: Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir on Thursday (June 11) proclaimed his second son Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin as the holder of the hereditary title of Putera Yang Empat, Tunku Panglima Besar of Negeri Sembilan, with immediate effect.
The proclamation ceremony was held in the Balairong Seri, Istana Besar Seri Menanti, with Tunku Ampuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud and Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin Tuanku Muhriz in attendance.
Also present were Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and heads of state departments.
The proclamation was made to fill the vacancy in the hereditary title of Tunku Panglima Besar of Negri Sembilan, which was previously held by Tunku Datuk Seri Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar.
Meanwhile, Negri Sembilan Comptroller of Royal Household Datuk Azizi Mohamad Ali, in a statement, said His Royal Highness expressed confidence that Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin, in his capacity as Tunku Panglima Besar, will continue to play an important role in upholding the sovereignty of the Royal Institution of Negri Sembilan and safeguarding the interests of the people and the state.
Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin, 44, was educated at Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur, Marlborough College in the United Kingdom, and the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he earned his MSc in Comparative Politics. He has worked with the UK Parliament, the World Bank, and the United Nations, and is an Eisenhower Fellow.
He serves as UCSI University Chancellor, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (Usim) Pro-Chancellor, and ICAN College President.
As a Jeffrey Cheah Foundation trustee and Patron of the Negri Sembilan Schools Arts and Culture Programme, Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin actively champions greater access to quality education, holistic learning, and the nurturing of well-rounded future leaders.
Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin is also the founding president of the think tank Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), and serves as chairman of Omesti Berhad, Excelerate Malaysia, and Enotech Pictures. He is also a Board Member of Deutsche Bank Malaysia, Prima Gading Corporation, Uni Enrol, and an Advisor to the UCSI Group.
He also serves as a Trustee of several foundations, including Yayasan Chow Kit, Yayasan Munarah, Yayasan Ideas, Genovasi Foundation, and Tinggi Foundation, many of which support education, youth development, and community empowerment.
He is an accomplished pianist who has performed with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and led a revitalisation of Negri Sembilan's state anthem and authored a book commemorating the installation of the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan.
Since 2008, Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin has written a regular newspaper column, with several books compiled from his articles.
He also enjoys racquet sports and serves as President Emeritus of the Negri Sembilan Squash Association, as well as Advisor to the Negri Sembilan Tennis Association and the Negri Sembilan Pickleball Association. - Bernama
