Surakarta confers royal title upon visiting Malaysian sultan
Surakarta confers royal title upon visiting Malaysian sultan
Kartika Bagus C., The Jakarta Post, Surakarta
Sultan Muhammad Abdul bin Alip, the 13th Johol Sultan from
Negeri Sembilan Malaysia, received on Saturday a royal title from
the Surakarta Hadiningrat palace in Central Java in a special
ceremony that coincided with the 58th anniversary of Pakoe
Boewono XII's enthronement.
The Malaysian sultan received the Kanjeng Pangeran Aryo
Adipati (KPAA), the second highest royal title given by the
Surakarta palace.
He was also awarded the royal honor of Paduka Yang Teramat
Mulia.
With the Surakarta's royal honor, the Johol sultan's full
royal name is KPAA Paduka Yang Teramat Mulia Dato Johan Pahlewan
Lela Perkasa Undang Luak Johol XIII.
Sultan Pakoe Boewono XII led the royal ceremony, which was
marked with the traditional Bedhaya Ketawang dance. The Surakarta
sultan then walked down to the Kamandungan gate to scatter Rp 500
and Rp 1,000 coins totaling Rp 5 million in a tradition called
udhik-udhik.
The tradition is part of an offering, whose philosophy is to
provide health, safety and prosperity to the people of Surakarta.
Surakarta Hadiningrat palace spokesman GPH Dipokusumo, said
granting the royal title to the Malaysian sultan was meant to
strengthen the relationship between the two royal clans in the
sultanates.
"The title is awarded to very selected persons who have a
special relationship with the Surakarta royal family," Dipokusumo
said. "The only other tie to the royal family is Sultan Pakoe
Boewono XII's grandson's marriage to one of Negeri Sembilan's
princesses."
The other Malaysian royal family who has been awarded a
Surakarta royal title was Dato Tengku Bahar Ismail. He received
the Yang Mulia Tengko Dato Paduka Kanjeng Pangeran Tumenggung
royal title from the Surakarta palace.
The Sultan of Johol was accompanied by several Negeri Sembilan
officials, including YB Dato Daru Salim bin Bulin, Dato Rosnaini,
Dato Dr. Shum Che Kok, Dato Anie Chan Nyat Lim and Dato Chua Look
Koh.
On Friday, the Surakarta palace also awarded titles to 649
people who were both royal members and outsiders.
Among those to receive a title and who were not a member of
the royal family was Djudjuk a comedian from Srimulat group, who
was given the new royal name Nyai Mas Menggung Retnaningtyas, and
cultural observer Arswendo Atmowiloto who received the royal name
Kanjeng Ratu Tumenggung Wilotodipuro.
Edi Swasono, a son-in-law of former vice president Muhammad
Hatta and artist and businessman Setiawan Jody also received
royal titles.