Malaysia's Johoreans Witness Tunku Tun Aminah, Dennis Muhammad 'Sitting-In-State' Ceremony Via Giant Screens

JOHOR BAHRU (Johor, Malaysia), Aug 15 (Bernama) -- The people of Johor thronged to the Johor Bahru City Square, here, Monday night to witness the ‘Bersanding' (sitting-in-state) ceremony of Tunku Tun Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Ibrahim and Dennis Muhammad Abdullah. The ceremony held at the Throne Room, Istana Besar (Grand Palace), here, was broadcast live to the public via two giant digital screens. The ceremony, started at 8.35pm and was steeped in Johor royal tradition and customs, with the bride donning a traditional 'Baju Kurung Teluk Belanga' and the groom wearing the 'Baju Melayu Teluk Belanga'. The Sultan of Johor (Ruler of the Malaysian state of Johor) Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, Permaisuri of Johor (Queen of Johor) Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah, royal families and close friends attended the ceremony. Also in attendance were Tunku Mahkota Johor (Crown Prince) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and his consort Che’ Puan Khaleeda Bustamam; Tunku Temenggong Tunku Idris; Tunku Panglima Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar. Also present were parents of Dennis Muhammad, Martin and Henriette Verbaas, his relatives and close friends from the Netherlands. Some 1,200 VIP guests including the Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (picture), Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Johor Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) Mohamed Khaled Nordin also attended the ceremony. The ceremony continued with ‘merenjis tepung tawar’ (blessing) ritual initiated by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his consort Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, followed by Sultan Ibrahim and Raja Zarith Sofiah. Then it was followed by the Regent of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and his consort Tunku Azizah Sultan Iskandar; and Tunku Ismail and Che’ Puan Khaleeda who also gave their blessing to the couple. Najib and Rosmah took their turns to bless the royal bride and her groom before the ceremony concluded by Dennis Muhammad’s parents Martin and Henriette Verbaas. The ceremony and live broadcast concluded with the departure of the royal couple and dignitaries to adjourn for the royal banquet. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA