Book offers glimpse into royal family

Good read: Abdul Rahim (right) showing Johor prince Tunku Temenggong Tunku Idris his book while Dr Wahid Omar looks on during the book launch at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai in Johor Baru.

JOHOR BARU: The public can now get a glimpse into the lives of the Johor royal family through a book written by Johor Royal Court Council president Datuk Abdul Rahim Ramli.

Having served three Johor’s rulers, Abdul Rahim penned a 396-page book titled “Adat Istiadat Kesultanan Johor Moden 1855-2012” detailing the history and practices of the Johor sultanate and the royal family.

The documentation, Abdul Rahim said, was based on facts and his observations and experiences of the royal family’s traditional culture, practices and ways of life since the days of Temenggong Ibrahim.

He said that the Johor sultanate has kept to the same set of traditions and Malay culture all this while, which had been further influenced through interaction with traders from China, India and the Middle East.

“Western influences have had a particularly strong impact on the palace especially after several visits made by the late Sultan Abu Bakar to Europe to strengthen international ties.

”These trips to improve socio-political ties and international trade also led to the modernisation and westernisation of Johor,” he said in his speech at the launch of his book at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia here.

Abdul Rahim said he wrote the book to show how the Johor sultanate has upheld traditions as well as serve as a reference for future generations.

In conjunction with the book’s launch, a new four-storey library named after Sultan of Johor’s Royal Consort Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah located within the UTM campus in Skudai here was officially opened.

Raja Zarith Sofiah is also UTM’s fourth and current chancellor.

The library, launched by her son and Johor prince Tunku Temenggong Tunku Idris, spans 8,250 sq m and includes a gallery dedicated to the works and private collections of Raja Zarith Sofiah.

UTM’s vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Wahid Omar said that the research library was integral for the university’ss research and development-based studies.

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