Royalty ; Proclamation, Installation and Coronation

All hail to the new ruler, His Majesty Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah who recently were installed in a lavish ceremony at the Istana Negara at Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur. The 14th King, as well as among the most experience Sultan compare to all. His Majesty is currently the longest reigning Malay monarch who inherited the throne of Kedah in 1958. The installation ceremony were proceeding smoothly even though I have to agree, there are certain times that I feel nervous if anything were to happen to Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah. Alhamdulillah, God wills it and everything are according to plan.


But, there is I think problem that need to be clarify, especially by royal terms used for the ceremony. Due to the fact that Malaysia adapted the Bahasa Melayu as a National Language, all the royal terms were used in Bahasa Melayu and rarely translated to English. Even in the newspaper or blogger alike, they usually mistaken the Installation ceremony as 'Coronation' ceremony, which is wrong. In Bahasa Melayu, there are three phrases used during the enthronement of the new King and Queen, they are Permasyhuran (Proclamation), Pertabalan (Installation) and Permahkotaan (Coronation). So where do we used this phrases? We will cover it in this royalty discussion segment.


PERMASYHURAN (PROCLAMATION)

Proclamation is the first process of enthronement of the new King. It was done after the death of the former King but prior to the former King's funeral. The latest proclamation can be seen during the proclamation of Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah as the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong. There are also recent example such as :-

i) Proclamation of His Royal Highness Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan


ii) Proclamation of His Royal Highness Sultan Ibrahim as the Sultan of Johor


iii) Proclamation of His Royal Highness Sultan Muhammad V as the Al-Sultan of Kelantan.

PERTABALAN (INSTALLATION)

The installation ceremony were the common practice of most States in Malaysia including in the federal level. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan of Pahang, Sultan of Perak, Sultan of Kedah, Raja of Perlis and the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan are all installed in a Official State Installation ceremony. It is almost like a coronation ceremony, but we do not called it coronation because these States does not have a State Crown in their Royal Regalia. So, it is called as Installation instead.

The recent example of course the Installation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Installation of the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.



PERMAHKOTAAN (CORONATION)

This is the common practice especially in the European nation where the new King/Queen will be crowned with a State Crown. In Malaysia however, only 4 States has a State Crown in their possession, Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu and Selangor. Here are among the among the rare footage of Malay Royal Coronation ceremonies.

i) Coronation of Sultan Ismail Al-Khalidi as the Sultan of Johor. Notice the Johor's State Crown and State Diadem were worn by the Sultan and Sultanah.


ii) Coronation of Sultan Ismail Petra II as the Al-Sultan of Kelantan. See the Kelantan's State Crown?


iii) Coronation of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin as the Sultan of Terengganu. The Sultan worn the first State Crown of Terengganu.


iv) The latest coronation would be the coronation of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah as the Sultan of Selangor.


Why the State Coronation are so rare to see? First of all, only 4 States can used the phrases coronation. Secondly, some of these Sultans were not consent to have a State Coronation such as the Sultan Iskandar of Johor, who wanted the money that would be used for his coronation to be used for better purposes for his people. We should also expecting the Coronation of Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan, but even him refused the State Coronation.

Currently, there is nothing decisive can be said whether Johor will witnessed the Coronation ceremony for the Sultan Ibrahim, but with the renovation currently take place at the Istana Besar of Johor, we can say that something major will going to take place in 2013.

It is in my deepest desire that all of us should not make anymore mistakes regarding the term of Installation and Coronation. Just remember, coronation ceremony will need the State Crown. That's all for now.

Salam