Queen Saleha Current Events 1: July 2005-

[Mandy]

Welcome to Part 1 of the Queen Saleha thread where you may post recent news, pictures, comments and articles. Please remember to follow the Attachment and Copyright Rules. Happy posting!

[La la]

Is her title Queen Saleha or Sultana (or something else)?

[alfie]

Originally Posted by La la

Is her title Queen Saleha or Sultana (or something else)?

Yes! her title is Her Majesty Queen or in the malay language in Brunei - Her Majesty Raja Isteri

[Humera]

Her Majesty, Crown Prince in farewell audienceJuly 25 - Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha yesterday granted farewell audiences to the spouses of three foreign envoys. The audiences took place at the Istana Nurul Iman.
http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/tue/jul26h11.htm

[Humera]

Royal audience to Malaysian delegates

http://www.brunei-online.com/sunday/news/aug7h15.htm

Pics from Infofoto:

[Humera]

Strong family, stronger nation

The strength of family institution plays a significant role in fostering and safeguarding the solidarity and harmony of all levels of the society, especially the younger generation.
Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha said this in a titah during the launch of the Domestic Science Exhibition 2005 and prize presentation ceremony, held yesterday in conjunction with His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's 59th birthday celebration.
.........Her Majesty was accompanied to the ceremony by HRH Pg Anak Isteri Pg Anak Hjh Zariah, HRH Princess Hjh Majeedah Nuurul Bulqiah, HRH Princess Hjh Hafizah Sururul Bulqiah, and HRH Princess Hjh Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam
http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/mon/aug15h1.htm

Pics from Infofoto

[Humera]

so she wont be a princess like Hjh Mariam? that sounds strange but I think its appropriate. I'd be happy with that.

[jennyfer]

i doubt she'll be a princess like hjh Mariam. unless...His Majesty wants it like that. but it will detoriate the views of his rakyat (his people) who have loved him unconditionally. i m sure most of them feel betrayed by this hidden knowledge. and will side with the Queen. the first time HM got married to hjh Mariam, rumours had it that the Queen cried her heart out. it is no doubt that she will cry again. though she is a courageous queen whom i admire deeply, no woman wants to share her husband, especially when she has no choice to choose.

[Saba]

I doubt if she the first wife feels sorrow, she is his cousin whom he married when they were young. Besides, there was another wife for over 20 years until recently. The first wife may very well have encouraged taking a second wife.

His first wife probably knows him better than anyone and her love extends to his happiness, just as when he had a second wife for over 20 years. Whatever makes him happy should make her happy, this arrangement is nothing new for any of them, except perhaps the new wife. Sultan and his first wife are seldom seen together except at family functions. I notice he and all of his children participate in a lot of physical activities, without his first wife.

What he has done is not illegal. I am happy for the entire family and wish them all well.

[BOLK]

I think that's very uncalled for, whether he has done that before, on any occassion, the fact that he's taking a new one must hit the wife badly. I don't see any justification to the fact that they were married for a long time, that they were cousin, and marry at early age, remove her feeling towards the husband.????? why would she wants to encourage him to take another wife??? he had enough children, 10 of them, including 4 boys, for heir matter, ...
........... I don't see any reason in your statement, or at least the grounds was unjustifiable....sorry

[Saba]

Originally Posted by Zina

Hi Saba, I have to point out, that in fact, the Queen is really very upset. She's been crying her heart out. This is because His Majesty was very sneaky and hadn't told his wife about this other lady. It's a 2 year , "on and off" affair... The Queen only found out about it the day after her husband re-married! Therefore, the 1st wife's permission was not sought, as it should be in Islamic Law. The whole of Brunei thinks very lowly of the Sultan & his family are definitely not sharing in his happiness.... Everything he stands for - Religious piety and family values, etc... he has gone against. Then he did not even announce the marriage in the local media, straight away!

He's lost the respect of his family and entire nation , for what he has done.

If household people claimed to have known that the Sultan was having a relationship, and others claimed to have known from tailors and such that he was planning to marry. Surely his wife was aware, they may live separate lives but certainly aren't that distant from one another that his wife was taken by surprise. And, if in fact he did not tell her, then there is definitely a break down in communication and they are more distant than even most friends. His father had more than one wife at a time; like father like son.

There are many reasons under Islamic law that a man can take another wife, he does not always need the permission of his first wife. Besides, he is the Sultan, he makes the rules in his country and in his family.

[Humera]

Originally Posted by Saba

If household people claimed to have known that the Sultan was having a relationship, and others claimed to have known from tailors and such that he was planning to marry. Surely his wife was aware, they may live separate lives but certainly aren't that distant from one another that his wife was taken by surprise. And, if in fact he did not tell her, then there is definitely a break down in communication and they are more distant than even most friends. His father had more than one wife at a time; like father like son.

There are many reasons under Islamic law that a man can take another wife, he does not always need the permission of his first wife. Besides, he is the Sultan, he makes the rules in his country and in his family.

the fact that he makes the rule doesnt make it right. His rules seem to have no regard for religion, society, family. There are very strict conditions for polygamy under Islamic law. Its not meant to be something a man does to selfishly please his ego.
I suppose you might have a different view of things because such things a common among many royals of the ME and in the region in general. Im always amazed how women can defend such actions. I doubt they'd feel the same if something like this happened to them.

[Humera]

Originally Posted by Zina

Humera is right about Brunei being so small that nothing is kept private. His Majesty's own little grandchildren were telling their classmates about the Queen's crying, swollen eyes.

And as for being Sultan - it seems as if he's made one set of rules for his citizens and another different set of rules to suit himself. What does that say about his character? Sultan or not -does not make him above the rest of the human race...what goes around, comes around and if HM did not learn his lesson last time with Hjh Mariam, he will learn a bigger, tougher lesson, next time.

Its horrible that the Queen's grandkids have to see all of this happen. She seems like such an affectionate grandmother, always holding her grand-daughters' hands in pictures. Do you know how the Crown Prince is reacting to this?

I know that the Malaysian PM has started his visit to Brunei. In the pictures so far I didnt see his wife accompany him. Do you know if that was done purposely so that Queen Saleha wouldnt have to make an appearance to welcome her? I was reading an article which mentioned that the Sultan will host a dinner for the PM but its not a banquet at the palace.

[BOLK]

the reason why Malaysian PM went without his wife is because of her undergoing chemotherapy treatment for her breast cancer in one of the hospital in US. I also eager to see Q Saleha in public .....

[alfie]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

Its horrible that the Queen's grandkids have to see all of this happen. She seems like such an affectionate grandmother, always holding her grand-daughters' hands in pictures. Do you know how the Crown Prince is reacting to this?
I know that the Malaysian PM has started his visit to Brunei. In the pictures so far I didnt see his wife accompany him. Do you know if that was done purposely so that Queen Saleha wouldnt have to make an appearance to welcome her? I was reading an article which mentioned that the Sultan will host a dinner for the PM but its not a banquet at the palace.

Yes! it is..Queen Saleha is being supported by all her love ones at this time in need. The Crown Prince and his siblings are very supportive and caring of their mother, he was very upset. Good thing is now he have a loving and supportive wife by his side to help him through all this.

The Malaysian PM visit is on a working visit and not a state visit, that is also why his wife did not have to accompany him on this visit. I.E: a short visit, discussing matters of state. Because it is not a state visit, that is why they did not have a banquet at the palace. The dinner was at Empire Hotel last night. The Crown Prince and Prince Mohammad also attended.

[Lisele]

[QUOTE=alfie]Yes! it is..Queen Saleha is being supported by all her love ones at this time in need. The Crown Prince and his siblings are very supportive and caring of their mother, he was very upset. Good thing is now he have a loving and supportive wife by his side to help him through all this. QUOTE]

I hope the Crown Prince remembers how his mother felt and remember not to do it to his wife. I hope that Queen Saleha recovers soon.

[Humera]

I agree completely jennyfer.
The sultan has tremendous wealth, he has a wife, he has lots of healthy kids.
What more could he want.
The way he has behaved surprising to me. I wont even get into the debate over the very strict conditions required for making polygamy "possible"
None of those requirements exist in this case.
I think this whole thing will make people love Queen Saleha even more.

[jello]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

I agree completely jennyfer.
The sultan has tremendous wealth, he has a wife, he has lots of healthy kids.
What more could he want.
The way he has behaved surprising to me. I wont even get into the debate over the very strict conditions required for making polygamy "possible"
None of those requirements exist in this case.
I think this whole thing will make people love Queen Saleha even more.

The sultan of Brunei is no more hero to the people of brunei due to this time he married again. what a bad suprised for me when i heard the news, his highness marry a reporter from malaysia. Is he try to make a cinderella story , make all the girs' dream come true , one night turn to rich and famous?

[Humera]

Originally Posted by Zina

I am surprised to learn that the Sultan's new wife is a divorcee! Azrinaz was previously married to a high profile Malaysian Minister's son and had 2 children with him! That is something that the newspapers didn't report....it just proves what a character Azrinaz must be to leave her husband and kids for an old grandfather and somebody else's husband! It adds more sordidity to the already sordid affair. There is speculation also, that Azrinaz is not really 26 years old but in fact much older - she certainly looks older than 26.

Princess Rashidah's husband has married a divorcee too - the lady friend he made pregnant is Malaysian, like Azrinaz, and has 2 children from her previous marriage. I must say that the Brunei Royal family, with all these intermarriages with divorcees - it's what we call "second hand goods".

this gets better and better. Was the new wife already divorced when she met the sultan or did she get a divorce after meeting him?
Its amazing that the media didnt cover this aspect of the relationship, not even the Malaysian media at the time.
I remember some sources at the time of the marriage in August said that she was 23 and I found that hard to believe.

[pwincess]

azrinaz is not a divorcee.when she got married to teh sultan...she is still single. do not believe the rumours.