Touching lives with quiet generosity
UPLIFTING underprivileged communities and ensuring education opportunities for the people are causes that have always been close to the heart of Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia.
In line with this, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and Her Majesty mooted the Bangsa Johor Bahagia (BJB) initiative in 2019 to better the lives of urban poor communities by engaging people of various ages in activities such as modern farming and reading.
Through this project, the previously run-down Kenari and Jentayu flats in Kangkar Pulai in Johor Baru have undergone a massive transformation over the years.
The flats are now equipped with facilities such as community spaces, a disposal facility for used items, a library, as well as herb and vegetable gardens cultivated by the residents.
In March 2024, the Queen also inaugurated the BJB container library in Kangkar Pulai.
During the event, Her Majesty expressed hope that the container library initiative would be extended to low-cost flats in Kuala Lumpur and other parts of Malaysia to cultivate a more widespread reading culture.
According to a recent posting on Sultan Ibrahim's official Facebook page, BJB is under the patronage of Their Majesties' charity foundations Yayasan Sultan Ibrahim Johor and Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Her Majesty handing out personal contributions and food baskets to the underprivileged community in the Federal Territories in conjunction with the National Day celebration in August 2024. — Photo from Sultan Ibrahim's official Facebook page
'The BJB programme at the flats has been successful since its implementation in 2019. Now, Her Majesty wishes to expand the programme to the Taman Plentong Utama flats (in Johor Baru) to improve the lives of the community there,' said the post.
On May 5 this year, the Queen granted an audience to Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and other state leaders at Istana Bukit Serene to discuss the expansion of the BJB initiative in Taman Plentong Utama, which would include the integration of artificial intelligence.
Raja Zarith Sofiah, who is also the Permaisuri of Johor, has a keen interest in academia. She often emphasises the importance of education and creating opportunities for youth to master English, enabling them to take their place on the global stage.
She once said that as a developing nation, it is important for Malaysian children to be trained in reading, writing and speaking English to help them become confident writers and speakers.
The Queen herself is fluent in multiple languages, including Mandarin, French and Italian.
Born at Batu Gajah Hospital in Perak on Aug 14, 1959, Raja Zarith Sofiah is the second daughter and third child of the late Sultan of Perak, Almarhum Paduka Seri Sultan Idris Shah II, and his consort Almarhumah Raja Perempuan Muzwin Almarhum Raja Ariff Shah.
The Queen received her primary education at SK Datin Khadijah and her secondary education at SMK Raja Perempuan Kalsom in Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
Her Majesty continued her secondary education at Cheltenham Ladies' College, a top-ranked all-girls boarding school in England, and is an alumna of the University of Oxford.
There, Raja Zarith Sofiah earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies from Somerville College and graduated in 1983.
Her Majesty in conversation with artistes (starting third from right) Sherry Alhadad, Zizan Razak and Datuk M. Nasir during an afternoon tea session with the local creative industry in April this year. — Photo from Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil's Facebook page
Her Majesty married Sultan Ibrahim on Sept 22, 1982, during his tenure as the Johor Crown Prince. They are blessed with six children – five princes and a princess.
The royal couple's dedication to their responsibilities has been their hallmark, and they have never wavered in carrying out their duties with sincerity.
Weekly engagements with the people and community leaders, along with visits to various Johor districts, have been the norm since the start of their marriage.
When floods struck parts of Johor in March this year, Raja Zarith Sofiah visited victims at two temporary relief centres in Kampung Maju Jaya and offered her personal contributions.
The Queen also took time out of her busy schedule to visit the family of Squadron 503 Air Tactical Officer Lt Commander Mohammad Amirulfaris Mohd Marzukhi, who tragically lost his life when two helicopters collided and crashed at the navy base in Lumut, Perak, on April 23 last year.
During her visit to his home in Negri Sembilan, the Queen offered words of comfort to his young sons and extended a personal donation to his widow.
The Queen also graced a breaking-of-fast event with 60 single mothers and 240 orphans at Istana Negara in the capital city during Ramadan this year.
Aside from her official duties, Her Majesty has a passion for painting – a talent she inherited from her late father.
Her Majesty is also a strong supporter of the arts and attended an afternoon tea with notable members of the local creative industry in April this year, including National Film Development Corporation chairman Datuk Hans Isaac, singer Datuk M. Nasir and actor Zizan Razak.
Attended by about 400 guests, including school students, the event was the brainchild of the Queen herself, designed to showcase talent and foster positive interactions between local artistes and students.
When gracing official functions, Raja Zarith Sofiah frequently showcases Johor's identity through her fashion choices.
Her Majesty exuded regal beauty and royal authority in a baju kurung Johor adorned with golden hibiscus embroidery at Sultan Ibrahim's installation ceremony as the 17th King of Malaysia at Istana Negara on July 20 last year.
During last year's National Day celebration in Putrajaya, Her Majesty donned a sweet pink baju kurung kain benang Johor alongside Sultan Ibrahim.
Her Majesty also wore an elegantly regal blue baju kurung made of kain benang Johor during the royal couple's three-day state visit to Brunei last October, marking their first official trip to the kingdom since ascending the throne.
Her traditional attire showcased the Queen's motif intricately woven into the songket Johor Maharani pattern, a design crafted exclusively for Raja Zarith Sofiah, with the blue hue symbolising one of the colours of the Malaysian flag.
A post on Sultan Ibrahim's official Facebook page highlighted that kain benang Johor is a plaid-patterned, handwoven fabric similar to songket, embodying a cherished part of Johor's cultural heritage.
'The production of kain benang Johor takes place entirely at Galeri Tenun, located within the Sultan Abu Bakar Heritage Complex in Johor Baru,' the post shared.
As Malaysians celebrate the official birthday of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Raja Zarith Sofiah's steadfast presence beside His Majesty continues to inspire with her quiet dedication, compassion and tireless service to the people.
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