Head of BKPBM Entitled `Yang Mulia Seri Setia Amantubillah Dato Sri Astana`

Mempawah, Melayu Online – Head of Center for Malay Culture Studies and Developments (BKPBM) who is also General Chief/Chief Editor of www.MelayuOnline.com, Mahyudin Al Mudra, SH., MM., was given the award Yang Mulia Seri Setia Amantubillah to bear Dato Sri Astana title by Mempawah Kingdom. The royal honorary title was conferred by the King of Mempawah himself, Pangeran Ratu Mulawangsa Mardan Adijata, M.Sc., in the last session to end the Robo Robo ceremony. Robo Robo is a traditional ritual that is conducted annually, precisely on the end of Safar month in Hijri calendar, as a commemoration or napak tilas (tracing back) of Opu Daeng Menambon‘s arrival in Mempawah. Opu Daeng Menambon became the first king of Mempawah Kingdom during Islamic period and bore the title Pangeran Mas Surya Negara. He reigned from 1740 to 1761.

The title conferring was conducted in Amantubillah Palace, Mempawah Kingdom, Kabupaten Pontianak, West Kalimantan. In the ceremony, Pangeran Ratu Mulawangsa also bestowed honorary titles on two other Malay figures, Opu Daeng Mohammad Faizal bin Opu Daeng Ismail bin Raja Ibrahim bin raja Mahmod from Singapore and Muarif Sutan Dirajo from Bukittinggi, West Sumatra. Both were given Yang Maha Utama Sri Paduka Amantubillah award to bear Yang Mulia Tuan Muda Sri Paduka Astana title from the kingdom.

Pangeran Ratu Mulawangsa Mardan Adijaya
and Permaisuri Ratu Kencanawangsa Arini Mariam Singing on Stage

The title conferring also put on a musical show that is the launching of an album containing songs written by Pangeran Ratu Mulawangsa Mardan Adijaya. In his greeting speech, the King of Mempawah said that he had written more than 200 songs in less than 4 months. In 2010, the King sets a goal of writing up to 1000 songs. Thus, Pangeran Ratu Mulawangsa Mardan Adijaya asks for helps and supports from all people in order to achieve the target.

A number of musicians featured in the occasion to play Pangeran Ratu Mulawangsa‘s songs. The King and his wife, Permaisuri Ratu Kencanawangsa Dr. Ir. Arini Mariam, M.Sc., sang some songs on stage. Moreover, there were also performances of some Mempawah traditional dances, such as Panembahan Kudong dance. Overall, the ceremony blended traditional and modern elements.

Panembahan Kudong Dance Performance

A number of Kabupaten Pontianak‘s high officials led by the Bupati of Pontianak, Drs. Ria Norsan, MM., MH., and some representatives from the government of West Kalimantan Province attended the occasion. There were also a number of Malay kings from across Indonesia and delegations from kingdoms from Malay sister countries, such as Singapore and Brunei Darussalam.

BKPBM/www.MelayuOnline.com represented by its chief, Mahyudin Al Mudra, was also invited to attend the title-conferring ceremony. In the event, Mahyudin Al Mudra and Pangeran Ratu Mulawangsa Mardan Adijaya exchanged keepsakes and agreed to establish a more intensive relationship between BKPBM/www.MelayuOnline.com and Mempawah Kingdom. The website has been known all along as the biggest and most comprehensive Malay and Malayness database. Its presence has become more vital because the portal is expected to be able to take important roles as a unifier of Malay communities all over the world.

When www.MelayuOnline.com asked Mahyudin Al Mudra for comments after given the honorary title, the founder of BKPBM smiled and answered, “I am so touched and grateful, being inaugurated as a member of Kraton Amantubillah family. Of course I consider this as a responsibility to really think along about the Kingdom‘s future in general. I will do my best to take on this responsibility for the glory of Malay civilization.”  

The Head of BKPBM along with the Royal Family of Mempawah Kingdom
Taking a Picture

(Iswara N. Raditya/Brt/03/02-2010)

Translation by Reza Daffi (terj/10/02-10)

Source of Photo: Collection of www.wisatamelayu.com (Photographer: Aam Ito Tistomo)

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