Tengku Ampuan of Pahang Tunku Azizah is well known for her joyful personality and humility. Despite being a member of the Pahang royal family, she has shown she is far from spoiled, whether by warmly reconnecting with a strict former teacher from her school days or by cleaning up her own mess after spilling cendol in her car.
In addition, Tunku Azizah is recognised for her compassion, particularly in her concern for the rehabilitation of prisoners. She believes they can continue to contribute to society even while serving their sentences. The former Queen of Malaysia grew emotional during a recent speech, sharing how inmates had played a role in preserving a traditional art form.
Over the long weekend, during the Merdeka celebrations, His Royal Highness the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, and his wife, Tunku Azizah, attended the inauguration of the Pahang Heritage Festival at the Maritime Museum of Pulau Beram. Her Royal Highness delivered a tearful speech during the Tunku Azizah Cup ceremony, revealing that 17 of the 20 winners of the Tenun Pahang Diraja competition were inmates.
“This would not have been possible without the support of the Malaysian Prison Department. They have given me hope in reviving the art of Tenun Pahang Diraja, and I would not be here without them. Because of that, I want to give them hope, so they can continue preserving this craft even after serving their sentences,” she said. Tunku Azizah added that the success of the prospect in winning the competition proved that the weaving products from Penor Prison and Bentong were among the best in the country, with beautiful designs and high quality.
The moment quickly went viral on social media, with netizens moved by Tunku Azizah’s speech. Many praised her compassion, noting her care not only for cultural heritage but also for the people. Others highlighted the quality of the products created by inmates and expressed hope that they would go on to build better lives through honest work once their sentences are complete.
Here’s the viral speech:
@editzzby_ah Replying to @_noma_00 dah pergi gym?sleep early wakeup early korang… morning! eh🤭…ni min kongsi antara sebahagian titah KDPB Tengku Ampuan Pahang semasa majlis pelancaran Yayasan Warisan Tunku Azizah & Majlis pengurniaan hadiah Piala Tunku Azizah, pertandingan Tenun Pahang Diraja anjuran Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja #tengkuampuanpahang #tenundiraja #penjarapenor #penjaramalaysia #pahangroyalfamily
