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.