Celebrating 90 years with Tunku Shahariah

 

Some 90 years ago on April 8, at Istana Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan… a Princess was born.

 

A traditional Nasi Kunyit Cake to
celebrate Tunku Shahariah's 90th birthday

She grew up full of grace, wit and elegance, and became part of the Johor Royal family when she married Tunku Abdul Rahman, the younger son of Sultan Ismail of Johor.

 

While YAM Tunku Shahariah Tuanku Abdul Rahman celebrated her 90^th birthday in April, members of the Johor Baru Speakers Club held a formal celebration to honour their beloved founding President who had held this role for the past 46 years.

 

When members of the JB Speakers Club met again at this event after two years of lockdowns and uncertainties, it was a happy reunion of local and out-station members… and guests (like me!)

 

The Nasi Kunyit Birthday Cake being wheeled in

This celebration was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Baru (again!) a familiar place along Jalan Ngee Heng because I grew up in our grandfather’s house that was once located across the road at No. 154.

 

When I arrived, I met with members of the Executive Committee and some members who were there with their spouses, already chatting and catching up with each other.

 

The cosy private function room had a lively ambience as Bobby, a guest artiste who played the keyboard, was providing live jazz music entertainment.

 

On her arrival, YAM Tunku Shahariah was warmly welcomed in to the sound of one her favourite tunes, Unforgettable.

 

It was a significant evening to honour Tunku Shahariah with this small event, and a hush fell upon the room when Tunku took a few moments to graciously thank the Exco and members for hosting this celebration for her 90^th birthday.

 

It was a lovely walk down Memory Lane as she reminisced on the many milestones achieved by the JB Speakers Club.

 

Johor Baru Speakers Club Exco and members, both local and from out-station,
with Tunku Shahariah to celebrate her 90th birthday in Johor Baru

Besides the Club’s workshops, seminars, talks, formal and informal gatherings, Tunku recalled some unforgettable events like Annual Dinners hosted in themes like Glittery 2 Nights, Humour in Fashion, Black & White, and Hawaiian Night.

 

Tunku Shahariah cutting her
Nasi Kunyit Cake

She also talked about their stage performances where the club members, herself included, presented dramas like Joy’s Pearls and Latifah Goes West as well as a shadow play based on The Emperor’s New Clothes.

 

Tunku Shahariah declared with a smile in her voice, that the most memorable experience for her must have been their presentation of Latifah Goes West in an event hosted in the Wild, Wild West theme, held at the Pan Pacific Hotel in 1998.

 

The title, Latifah Goes West, was coined by this show’s Director, Datin Patricia Lim.

 

She fondly remembered that the ballroom was decorated like a ranch with the stage backdrop design that featured mountains and desert with cacti and all the guests were so sporting as to come dressed in Western costumes.

 

It was truly an unforgettable event as Tunku recalled all the memorable details including how the evening ended with everyone joining in for Line Dancing to popular Country & Western tunes.

 

Tunku Shahariah with her male guests (standing)

What’s a birthday celebration without a birthday cake?

 

There was indeed no birthday cake and instead, a traditional Nasi Kunyit Cake was wheeled in, decorated by shooting sparklers, and arranged near Tunku for us to sing her the birthday song.

 

While Tunku clearly enjoyed singing and dancing, she has embraced her advanced age and fondly relived those lovely moments at a time when she was still agile.

 

Her voice was still strong – over the microphone – and when she was invited to sing, Tunku did not hesitate to sing her favourite songs, one after another, to music provided by the keyboardist.

 

Tunku Shahariah reading her speech

As the intro music filled the room, I recognised this familiar tune for a popular Filipino song, and everyone cheered and clapped when Tunku sang, Dahil Sa Iyo, a lovely ballad which means, Because of You.

 

Encouraged by the appreciative audience, Tunku offered to sing another more upbeat tune – this time in Spanish – Amour, Amour, which means, Love, Love.

 

Dinner was a sumptuous buffet spread and while the meal was in progress, the club’s Visits & Talks Chairman, Datin Patricia Lim, led the First Toast and invited everyone to raise their glasses in a formal toast to Tunku.

 

Tunku Shahariah receiving
Book Two of My Johor Stories

Next, the Vice-President, Datin Paduka Rohaya Awang, led the Second Toast to the club and its members.

 

The evening’s entertainment continued with a music presentation by Juliette Lai, who played the keyboard and sang her own version – with lyrics changed – to the tune of Unforgettable.

 

The final item on the evening’s programme was a poem, written and recited by Dr Shanmugam Subbiah. After his recitation, a laminated copy was presented to Tunku.

 

Earlier on, I had requested for a time slot to present a copy of Book Two of My Johor Stories, My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People, to Tunku, and was told that I should do so after the poem recital.

 

So finally, it was my turn to present my gift to Tunku who graciously accepted and assured me that she will enjoy reading my book.

 

When my first My Johor Stories book was launched in 2017, a copy of this MPH Non-Fiction Bestseller, My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage was presented to Her Majesty the Permaisuri Johor.

 

At an event in Muar in November 2018, District Officers presented His Majesty the Sultan of Johor with birthday gifts and a photo in the Official Sultan Ibrahim Instagram page depicted His Majesty holding up and reading my book, My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People.

 

Dr Shanmugam and Juliette [Right] led in
singing, You Are My Sunshine, dedicated to Tunku

Since 2018, Books One and Two of My Johor Stories were in the Johor Royal household and now Tunku Shahariah also has her copy of Book Two, which is filled with stories that include Heritage Traders whom I believe, are familiar to her.

 

To close the birthday celebration, Dr Shanmugam and Juliette led in singing a familiar folk song, You Are My Sunshine, dedicated to Tunku.

 

It was a fitting end to an enjoyable evening as everyone spontaneously joined in for a sing-along, with the lyrics of this charming song dedicated to Tunku Shahariah, our Sunshine.

 

Happy 90^th Birthday Tunku. Wishing you good health and strength, with many more birthdays to come!