Sultanah Nur Zahirah

Infobox Monarch


title = Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) and Sultanah of Terengganu
caption = Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah D.M.N, D.K (Terenganu), S.S.M.Z, S.S.M.T (Terengganu)
reign = 12 July 1998 - present
coronation = 12 July 1998
predecessor =
successor =
suc-type =
heir =
Spouse = Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin
issue =Tengku Nadhirah Zaharah
Tengku Muhammad Ismail
Tengku Muhammad Mua'az
Tengku Fatimatuz Zahra'
royal house =
royal anthem =
father = Encik Adil Bakeri
mother =
date of birth = Birth date and age|1973|12|07|df=yes
place of birth = Alor Star, Kedah
date of death =
place of death =
buried =|

Tuanku Nur Zahirah is the Sultanah "(fomerly Permaisuri)" of the state of Terengganu, Malaysia, and the current (13th) Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen) of Malaysia.

Early life

Born Rozita binti Adil Bakeri on December 7, 1973 in Alor Star, Kedah, she received her primary school education at Sekolah Kebangsaan St. Nicholas' Convent, and her secondary school education at SMK St. Nicholas' Convent, both in Alor Star, Kedah.

Royal Life

She married Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu on 28 March 1996 in Kuala Terengganu. She was then known as Cik Puan Sri Rozita Adil Bakeri.

She was accorded the title Permaisuri Nur Zahirah on July 19, 1998, after Tuanku Mizan was proclaimed the Sultan of Terengganu. Later, her title was changed to Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultanah Nur Zahirah on June 5, 2006 in accordance with the Sultan's wishes.

She was conferred the dignitary titles of the Bintang Kebesaran Darjah Seri Setia Sultan Mahmud Terengganu Yang Amat Mulia Darjah Yang Pertama (D.K.) on 16 January 1999 and Darjah Kebesaran Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Terengganu Yang Amat Terpilih (S.S.M.Z.). The most recent dignitary title awarded to Her Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong was the Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara (D.M.N.) on 5 April 2007.

Family life

The royal couple have four children:
*Princess Tengku Nadhirah Zaharah (born December 18, 1996)
*Prince Tengku Muhammad Ismail (born March 1, 1998)
*Prince Tengku Muhammad Mua'az (born December 22, 2000)
*Princess Tengku Fatimatuz Zahra' (born April 19, 2002)

Hobbies and Interests

The Queen loves interior decoration and does much of the interior design at the palace. She loves to cook, especially dishes that are the favourites of her husband and family. Tuanku Nur Zahirah also loves to read books, specially concerning intelligence quotient and emotional quotient. The Sultanah is also interested in martial arts, as the activity keeps a person body fit and trim. She spends her free time by taking part in exercises such as aerobics. She also likes strenuous sports, such as endurance horse riding, which is the favourite of the Sultan. The Sultanah is her husband’s number one supporter when he takes part in such races locally or overseas.

ocial Contribution

The kindness and sincere consideration by Her Majesty can be proven during the tsunami tragedy when she played a major role in collecting donations for the victims which were successfully distributed through both the Acheh and Kedah governments. The list of generosity of the Seri Paduka Baginda Tuanku includes involving herself with programmes to assist the poor and those with special needs.

In 2006, the Yayasan DiRaja Sultan Mizan, a local foundation of the Royal Family of Terengganu, represented by Her Majesty distributed milk bottle especially for cleft-lipped babies, breast pumps for mothers and related devices to help people with eyesight problems through Hospital Nur Zahirah.

Her Majesty is the patron of various organizations, uniformed bodies and educational institutions in the Terengganu State. The organizations under the Sultanah consist of:
* Majlis Kebajikan dan Pembangunan Masyarakat (for social welfare and development)
* Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak Yatim Terengganu (known as PERKAYA for the welfare of orphans)
* Persatuan Hospis Terengganu
* Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru SK Pusat Bukit Besar, Terengganu
* Girl Guide Association of Terengganu

Another important accomplishment is the Tadika An Nur, a well established pre-school in Terengganu pioneered by Seri Paduka Baginda Tuanku. This pre-school prospered when she planned to give an early form of education for her children. She is currently the Patron of Tadika An Nur which has now been opened to the public.

Awards

Tuanku Nur Zahirah was conferred with an honorary doctorate in management at a special convocation of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu in December last year. She received the degree from Tuanku Mizan, who is the university’s chancellor. The award is significant as it acknowledges the contribution in which Her Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Tuanku has placed towards organizing various charity works for the people in the state of Terengganu.

In her speech at the event, she urged the people of Terengganu to take the initiative to emulate the excellent accomplishments of past Muslim scholars in fields of knowledge, especially in science and technology.

Trivia

* Sultanah Nur Zahirah is the second Raja Permaisuri Agong after Permaisuri Siti Aishah of Selangor who wears the headscarf (hijab) on a daily basis.

References

* [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/26/nation/17386226&sec=nation Kind, gentle queen] , The Star, April 26, 2007.

ee also

*Yang Di-Pertuan Agong
*Raja Permaisuri Agong