Dignitaries — and curious onlookers — arrive at Johor palace for royal wedding

JOHOR BARU — The celebrations for the wedding of the Johor princess Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Ibrahim, 31, and Dennis Muhammad Abdullah, 28, on Monday (Aug 14) have begun — much to the excitement of locals and tourists in the city.

Although the event is limited to guests only, it hasn’t stopped curious onlookers from assembling outside the palace — and they’re not all from Malaysia.

One of them is Zakir Zakaria, 22, a self-confessed fan of princess Aminah who lives in Tampines. He said he arrived about 6am.

“I adore her character and her compassion towards animals and others, especially seen after the big fire at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital last year. Her character captivates me,” he said.

He arrived in Johor Baru with his father Zakaria Rahim, 51, and stood near the Crown Arch outside the palace armed with his camera. He said he skipped his classes today to experience the once-in-a lifetime ceremony.

Meanwhile, guests have already arrived at the palace. A motorcade conveying members of the Johor royal family and their extended relatives and dignitaries was seen arriving at the venue of the morning events at the Istana Bukit Serene.

The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and the Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah arrived at the palace at about 8.45am, in one of Sultan Ibrahim’s blue and white Rolls Royce cars.

They were followed by other members of the royal family, including relatives who are members of the Pahang and Perak royal households. The last to enter the palace this morning was Johor’s minister, Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, are among dignitaries from around the region who will attend the ceremony.

About 100 police personnel are stationed outside the palace gates for the big day.

The lavish event will begin with the betrothal ceremony, followed by the “nikah” or marriage solemnisation session. It will be followed a “bersanding” — or sitting-in-state — ceremony held at the Throne Room of the Istana Besar.

Those in Johor will be able to watch a live relay of the ceremony on big screens set up at Dataran Bandaraya and the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) building. NEW STRAITS TIMES