CEREMONIAL: The design, measurement, choice of materials and motifs used for regalia or insignia are based on the identity and culture of Johor
JOHOR BAHRU: THE old kingdom of Johor, like any other Malay Sultanate, possessed weapons of war such as spears and shields, maces, bows and arrows, keris and swords, umbrellas and flags, drums and flutes and flintlocks and muskets. They were regarded as a Ruler's symbols or instruments of authority.
The Ruler's personal and household possessions like seals, armlets and bracelets, waist buckles and chains, betel box, cuspidors, and costumes were also regarded as symbols of his authority.
Before the end of the 19th century, they ceased to have much practical use. Some of the symbols are retained for ceremonial purposes and classified as insignia or regalia, while the others are preserved in museums or used as decorative pieces in palaces.
A common feature is the regalia, that are revered and are to be handled with care and respect. It is believed ill fortunes will beset a Ruler if he is installed without them.
Abu Bakar was wise to the misfortunes of Sultan Abdul Rahman, Sultan Hussain and Sultan Ali, who were installed as Sultans of Johor without the regalia of the old kingdom.
The regalia were kept by Raja Hamidah, a consort of Sultan Mahmood III, as she was against the appointment of Tengku Abdul Rahman as successor to the throne of Johor/Lingga.
In spite of monetary offers by Sultan Hussain, Raja Hamidah refused to release the regalia. In 1882, the Dutch forcefully removed them from her and brought them to Malacca before handing them to the Riau Lingga sultanate.
Upon his recognition as Sultan of Johor by the British in 1885, Abu Bakar commissioned the regalia to confirm the sanctity of his appointment and bring modernity to Johor.
As such, the regalia are to be exemplary, ahead of its time and of other states, and viewed with reverence.
The design, measurement, choice of materials and motifs were based on the identity and culture of Johor.
The insignia crafted by British crown jewellers J.V. Benson incorporated Johor's icons of gambier leaves and pepper vines, as well as Islamic scripts and images of his crown.
Gambier (Uncaria gambier) and pepper (Piper nigrum) were the main agricultural and export crops that brought tremendous wealth to Johor. The designs reflect an amalgamation of Western ideas and Eastern and Islamic philosophies.
The insignia are made of quality materials including precious stones, silver gilt metals and fine silk.
The Johor regalia consist of the crown and crown jewels, the throne, the royal standard and the state flag, the state coat-of-arms, maces and sceptres, staffs, spears, keris and umbrellas.
A throne is regarded as the seat of state of a sovereign on state occasions. The throne of Johor is made up of a larger chair for the Sultan and a smaller chair for his consort. They are placed on a three-tiered platform (peterana) to denote the Ruler stands above his subjects.
The platform and throne are placed at the west end of the Bilik Singgahsana (Throne Room) of the Istana Besar. A special chair for the Crown Prince is placed on the second step of the platform on the right of the sovereign's throne.
The Temenggong's chair is on the second step on the left of the consort's throne. The seating arrangement reflects the position of the heirs in their line of succession.
The throne was made in the late 19th century by Johor Malay craftsmen from hardwood obtained from the jungles of Johor.
The legs are carved to resemble the legs of the tiger and mounted atop small spheres symbolical of the sovereignty, justice and strength of the ruler. The arms at the extremities are carved in the shape of the head of a roaring tiger.
Abu Bakar recognised the tiger for its bravery, strength and majesty.
He immortalised the tigers for the future generation to acknowledge their presence in the jungles of Johor, and the difficulty and fear faced by the early inhabitants in opening up Johor.
The centre of the high back has a crescent and star, bordered by a floral design of gambier and pepper. The throne is surmounted by a replica of the state coat-of-arms. The woodwork is decorated with gold leaf.
The throne of the consort is slightly smaller but resembles the Sultan's throne in other respects.
Each throne is accompanied by footrests that have legs carved in the shape of a tiger's legs.
Malays believe misfortunes will befall those who desecrate the throne and regalia. It is sacrilegious for persons other than the Ruler to sit on the throne.
The thrones are never removed from the Bilik Singgahsana of the Istana Besar. Special chairs of almost similar design but dressed in turquoise blue, the colour chosen by His Royal Highness, are used at functions away from the Throne Room.
Johor is the first state in Malaya to have a coat-of-arms, a heraldic device and pictorial representation to display the armorial bearings of the State.
In 1886, Abu Bakar added the Johor coat-of-arms to his royal regalia. The emblem is designed with a central shield surmounted by the State crown depicting sovereignty.
The crown at the apex signifies priority and homage to the ruler, as in the Malay saying, Kerja Raja Dijunjung Kerja Sendiri Dikelek (loosely translated as giving priority to royal commands). The white shield carries a large crescent and five-pointed star denoting the Islamic faith and the State religion.
The shield contains four five-pointed stars, one at each corner depicting the four Jajahan (Residencies), namely, Johor Bahru, Muar, Batu Pahat, and Endau, first created by Abu Bakar for ease of administration.
The emblem is supported by two young tigers depicting strength, bravery and majesty. The tigers seem to be protecting the crown. The tigers are standing on a yellow compartment of mirrored flora of stylised gambier and pepper the principle economic crops of Johor.
The State motto in Jawi script Kepada Allah Beserah (Unto God Resigned), an endorsement in belief in the Almighty, is inscribed on a blue scroll.
White and blue are the Sovereign's colour, and yellow the colour of royalty.
Dato' Abdul Rahim Ramli is secretary of the Council of the Royal Court.
JOHOR BAHRU: THE old kingdom of Johor, like any other Malay Sultanate, possessed weapons of war such as spears and shields, maces, bows and arrows, keris and swords, umbrellas and flags, drums and flutes and flintlocks and muskets. They were regarded as a Ruler's symbols or instruments of authority.
The Ruler's personal and household possessions like seals, armlets and bracelets, waist buckles and chains, betel box, cuspidors, and costumes were also regarded as symbols of his authority.
Before the end of the 19th century, they ceased to have much practical use. Some of the symbols are retained for ceremonial purposes and classified as insignia or regalia, while the others are preserved in museums or used as decorative pieces in palaces.
A common feature is the regalia, that are revered and are to be handled with care and respect. It is believed ill fortunes will beset a Ruler if he is installed without them.
Abu Bakar was wise to the misfortunes of Sultan Abdul Rahman, Sultan Hussain and Sultan Ali, who were installed as Sultans of Johor without the regalia of the old kingdom.
The regalia were kept by Raja Hamidah, a consort of Sultan Mahmood III, as she was against the appointment of Tengku Abdul Rahman as successor to the throne of Johor/Lingga.
In spite of monetary offers by Sultan Hussain, Raja Hamidah refused to release the regalia. In 1882, the Dutch forcefully removed them from her and brought them to Malacca before handing them to the Riau Lingga sultanate.
Upon his recognition as Sultan of Johor by the British in 1885, Abu Bakar commissioned the regalia to confirm the sanctity of his appointment and bring modernity to Johor.
As such, the regalia are to be exemplary, ahead of its time and of other states, and viewed with reverence.
The design, measurement, choice of materials and motifs were based on the identity and culture of Johor.
The insignia crafted by British crown jewellers J.V. Benson incorporated Johor's icons of gambier leaves and pepper vines, as well as Islamic scripts and images of his crown.
Gambier (Uncaria gambier) and pepper (Piper nigrum) were the main agricultural and export crops that brought tremendous wealth to Johor. The designs reflect an amalgamation of Western ideas and Eastern and Islamic philosophies.
The insignia are made of quality materials including precious stones, silver gilt metals and fine silk.
The Johor regalia consist of the crown and crown jewels, the throne, the royal standard and the state flag, the state coat-of-arms, maces and sceptres, staffs, spears, keris and umbrellas.
A throne is regarded as the seat of state of a sovereign on state occasions. The throne of Johor is made up of a larger chair for the Sultan and a smaller chair for his consort. They are placed on a three-tiered platform (peterana) to denote the Ruler stands above his subjects.
The platform and throne are placed at the west end of the Bilik Singgahsana (Throne Room) of the Istana Besar. A special chair for the Crown Prince is placed on the second step of the platform on the right of the sovereign's throne.
The Temenggong's chair is on the second step on the left of the consort's throne. The seating arrangement reflects the position of the heirs in their line of succession.
The throne was made in the late 19th century by Johor Malay craftsmen from hardwood obtained from the jungles of Johor.
The legs are carved to resemble the legs of the tiger and mounted atop small spheres symbolical of the sovereignty, justice and strength of the ruler. The arms at the extremities are carved in the shape of the head of a roaring tiger.
Abu Bakar recognised the tiger for its bravery, strength and majesty.
He immortalised the tigers for the future generation to acknowledge their presence in the jungles of Johor, and the difficulty and fear faced by the early inhabitants in opening up Johor.
The centre of the high back has a crescent and star, bordered by a floral design of gambier and pepper. The throne is surmounted by a replica of the state coat-of-arms. The woodwork is decorated with gold leaf.
The throne of the consort is slightly smaller but resembles the Sultan's throne in other respects.
Each throne is accompanied by footrests that have legs carved in the shape of a tiger's legs.
Malays believe misfortunes will befall those who desecrate the throne and regalia. It is sacrilegious for persons other than the Ruler to sit on the throne.
The thrones are never removed from the Bilik Singgahsana of the Istana Besar. Special chairs of almost similar design but dressed in turquoise blue, the colour chosen by His Royal Highness, are used at functions away from the Throne Room.
Johor is the first state in Malaya to have a coat-of-arms, a heraldic device and pictorial representation to display the armorial bearings of the State.
In 1886, Abu Bakar added the Johor coat-of-arms to his royal regalia. The emblem is designed with a central shield surmounted by the State crown depicting sovereignty.
The crown at the apex signifies priority and homage to the ruler, as in the Malay saying, Kerja Raja Dijunjung Kerja Sendiri Dikelek (loosely translated as giving priority to royal commands). The white shield carries a large crescent and five-pointed star denoting the Islamic faith and the State religion.
The shield contains four five-pointed stars, one at each corner depicting the four Jajahan (Residencies), namely, Johor Bahru, Muar, Batu Pahat, and Endau, first created by Abu Bakar for ease of administration.
The emblem is supported by two young tigers depicting strength, bravery and majesty. The tigers seem to be protecting the crown. The tigers are standing on a yellow compartment of mirrored flora of stylised gambier and pepper the principle economic crops of Johor.
The State motto in Jawi script Kepada Allah Beserah (Unto God Resigned), an endorsement in belief in the Almighty, is inscribed on a blue scroll.
White and blue are the Sovereign's colour, and yellow the colour of royalty.
Dato' Abdul Rahim Ramli is secretary of the Council of the Royal Court.
