Tengku Budriah

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tengku Budriah binti AlMarhum Tengku Ismail was born in Kuala Krai, Kelantan on March 18, 1924cite web|url=http://www.malaysianmonarchy.org.my/portal_bi/rk3/rk3a.php?id=rk3_3|title=Yang di-Pertuan Agong III|work=Malaysian Monarchy|author=Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia|year=2003|accessdate=2006-12-10] . She was the princess of Almarhum Tengku Ismail and Tengku Besar Zubaidah binti Almarhum Tengku Abdul Kadir, The Raja of Pattani in Southern Thailand.

Her family ruled Patani in Thailand until it was overthrown by King Chulalongkorn in his effort to consolidate his hold on the southern part of that country. Tengku Budriah's grandfather, the former Sultan Abdul Aziz of Patani, withdrew to Kelantan. The ruling family of Kelantan was distantly related to that of Patani.

chool Years

Tengku Budriah was brought up in a family which had a simple way of life. She is noted for her gentleness and politeness. By her active involvement in uniform bodies she developed herself into a personality with superior leadership traits. She began her primary education in a Malay School when she was seven, then continued her education at Kuala Kerai English School. Tengku Budriah later spent her Lower Secondary Education at Anglo Chinese Girl's School in Ipoh, Perak. As an active person in co-curriculum activities, she was appointed as committee member in Brownies and Girl Guides. Besides that she was also active in sports where she represented her school team in badminton and hockey.

Marriage and Becoming Queen

Tengku Budriah married Tuanku Syed Putra ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail, their apparent of Perlis in 1941. When he was exiled by the Japanese occupying forces, she helped him run a small cake and sundry goods shop in Kota Bharu. Tuanku Syed Putra became Raja of Perlis in 1945 and Tengku Budriah was installed Raja Perempuan or Queen of that state.

Tuanku Syed Putra was elected third Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1960 and Tengku Budriah accordingly became Raja Permaisuri Agong.

When her husband died in 2000, he was the world's longest reigning monarch. Her eldest son Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin also served as Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia from 2001 till December 12, 2006. Her title after the death of the king is YMM (Yang Maha Mulia) Raja Perempuan Besar Perlis or same as HRH the Queen Mother of Perlis.

Hobby

Tengku Budriah spends most of her leisure time enjoying her favourite hobbies such as gardening, sewing, flower arrangement and cooking. She often cooked for her husband especially when they were on vacation abroad. Lately she took up a new interest in painting flowers on dresses, scarves and porcelain for sale where profits made from the sales were donated to the welfare funds of Taman Asuhan Darulfarah .

Charity Works

Tengku Budriah took several initiatives to upgrade the welfare of the people of Perlis. She often visited schools and awarded school uniforms to poor students .

The Royal family were pioneers in implementing the Foster Parents Project organized by the Women Institution (W.I) of Perlis. Each Royal Family member would take one poor foster child to support for his education. This project succeeded in helping the poor students to continue their education to higher levels.

Tengku Budriah also played an active role in the progress and welfare of the women in the country. She acted as patron and chairman to several movements in the state and nationwide such as Perlis Women Institutions (W.I), Perlis Muslim Women Welfare Association, Perlis Family Planning Association, Malaysian Women's Hockey Association, Perlis Children Welfare Board and Taman Asuhan Darulfarah.

In 2002 the nursery managed by Darulfarah was closed down and thus the name Taman Asuhan Darulfarah was changed to "Yayasan Amal Tengku Hajah Budriah" and the latest project was initiated through her ideas and commitment is the setting up of Tuanku Syed Putra Dialysis Centre built next to the existing Darulfarah building which was completed in June 2005 and the Syed Putra Foundation for Kidney Disease.

Tengku Budriah lives in quiet retirement in Perlis, though active in charitable organisations.

References

See also

*Yang di-Pertuan Agong
*Raja Permaisuri Agong

External links

* [http://www.perlisroyalty.gov.my Raja Perlis Web Site]