Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Kuala Kangsar, Malaysia - HIS MAJESTY the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam attended a state banquet last night in Kuala Kangsar, Perak Darul Ridzuan, in honour of the Sultan of Perak's 25th year on the throne.

The monarch joined Malaysian royalty, prominent government figures and other distinguished guests at the glittering Banquet Hall in Istana Iskandariah to commemorate Sultan Azlan Shah's silver jubilee, which fell on February 3.

His Majesty, accompanied by Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Isteri Azrinaz Mazhar, arrived in Ipoh earlier in the afternoon.

Upon landing at Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, the royal entourage was greeted by Sultan Azlan Shah, Raja Nazrin Shah, the Raja Muda of Perak, and his wife Raja Puan Besar of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim before they were ushered to the airport's holding room for a doa selamat.

The royal entourage also included -.Her Royal Highness- Princess Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Fad zilah Lubabul Bulqiah. Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Hj Idris.

The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, the Malay rulers and the Yang DiPertua Negeri of the various Malaysian states were present during the banquet.

Also present were Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi and his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

His Majesty's visit came at the invitation of Sultan Azlan Shah's eldest son, Raja Nazrin Shah, who extended the invitation during an audience with the monarch when he visited Brunei in December last year.

Sultan Azlan Shah ascended the throne of Perak as the 34th Sultan following the demise of his uncle, Sultan Idris Shah, on February 3, 1984. He is among the four Sultans who have ruled the state for 25 years.

Sultan Azlan Shah received his early education at the Government English School in Batu Gajah (now known as Sekolah Sultan Yussuf Batu Gajah) before continuing his studies at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar.

He then studied law at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, and graduated with a degree in law in 1953.

Upon his return to then Malaya, Sultan Azlan Shah entered the civil service as the Deputy State Secretary of Perak. He then entered the Legal and Judicial Service of the Federation of Malaya as a First Class Magistrate and subsequently became President of the Sessions Court.

In 1965, aged 37, he became the youngest High Court judge in Commonwealth history, and rose to the pinnacle of the judiciary in 1982 when he was appointed the Lord President of the Federal Court.

He was also an avid field hockey player in his younger days, and envisioned the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, an annual field hockey tournament held in Malaysia.

Sultan Azlan Shah was installed as Malaysia's ninthYang Di-Pertuan Agong 1989. A year later, he came to Brunei on a state visit, where he received a Honourary Doctorate in Law from His Majesty during a special convocation at the International Convention Centre.

His Majesty reciprocated the visit in 1992, where he visited the Kuala Kangsar Malay College.

The monarch's late father Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, was a student at the college in 1932 when he was 20 years old.

The monarch and the royal entourage departed Perak following the banquet. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times