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PETALING JAYA: Today is a particularly auspicious day for the royal house of Selangor, as it is the birthday of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the current and ninth ruler of the state.
His Royal Highness, who will turn 75 this year, is a highly respected figure in the prosperous state of Selangor and loved for his firm but just rule.
As the people of Selangor enjoy the long weekend, perhaps now is a good time to learn some interesting facts about the ruler of Selangor.
There are many achievements in his name that many of his subjects may be unaware of, such as:
1. Your significant name
Born as the first son of the late Sultan Tengku Abdul Aziz Shah, Sultan Sharafuddin’s birth name was Tengku Idris Shah.
Upon succeeding his father, he took the royal name Sharafuddin, which means “religious enlightenment” in Arabic.
His full reigning name is Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj.
2. He is an adventurer
Not content with simply enjoying the lavish lifestyle that is the right of any king, Sultan Sharafuddin has shown his penchant for adventure on the high seas.
On a 22-month expedition launched in 1995, he circled the world on his yacht, the SY Jugra.
Since then, the great Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta sailing event bears his name.
In addition to conquering the seas, he also climbed Mount Kinabalu at the age of 30.
3. He’s a big fan of motorsports.
Sultan Sharafuddin is also a fan of motorsports, having participated in rallies and races and traveled extensively on the roads of the world.
In 1997, Sultan Sharafuddin took part in the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge and covered a staggering 16,000 km in 43 days.
He traveled the vast expanse between Beijing and Paris in his 1932 Ford Model B, traversing treacherous terrain and crossing two continents. For this achievement, he earned a silver medal.
According to some accounts, Sultan Sharafuddin was caught in a sandstorm while passing through the Mongolian desert, prompting him to take refuge in his car.
Years before, in 1986, he had also made a long journey from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching in a Proton Saga, covering more than 1,000 km.
4. He is a hobbyist and collector.
It can be difficult for ordinary people to imagine kings and rulers having their own personal hobbies, with their long list of administrative roles and responsibilities.
However, Sultan Sharafuddin has time to pursue his hobbies, which include reading, photography, stamp collecting, and collecting antiques.
He is also particularly proud of his collection of traditional Malay weapons, of which only a few lucky guests can glimpse.
5. Kept Selangor Weekends
It has been a while since the issue was resolved, but in 2013, some quarters suggested that the weekends in Selangor be changed to Friday and Saturday.
Several states had done so, and questions abounded as to whether Selangor would do the same.
The debate was still ongoing when Sultan Sharafuddin chimed in to share his thoughts: that weekends should be kept as they were.
The reasoning provided for his position included that the people of Selangor did not complain about the current state of the weekends. In addition, changing the operation of the weekends would also be detrimental to international business, dealing a severe blow to Selangor, an especially prosperous state.
Therefore, it was thanks to the intervention of Sultan Sharafuddin that the people of Selangor can still sleep on Saturdays and Sundays.
