Tuanku Zara Salim, the Beautiful and People-Centric Raja Permaisuri of Perak
Perak Darul Ridzuan is truly a peaceful and prosperous state, blessed with a just and people-centric Sultan and Raja Permaisuri for generations.
In conjunction with the birthday of the Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim, orangperak.com would like to share the story of the remarkable personality of this beloved Raja Permaisuri of Perak Darul Ridzuan. Tuanku Zara Salim was born on March 22, 1973, in Ipoh, Perak, and is the consort of the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah. Tuanku Zara was bestowed the title of Raja Permaisuri of Perak by the Sultan of Perak on June 20, 2014.
Her Majesty is the youngest of four siblings and the daughter of prominent lawyers in Perak and Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Salim Davidson and Datin Sharifah Azaliah Syed Omar Shahabudin. Tuanku Zara is the great-granddaughter of the 24th Sultan of Kedah, the late Sultan Hamid Halim Shah, who was the father of the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.
Tuanku Zara has a keen interest in foreign languages. She received her early education at SMK Convent Ipoh and frequently represented the school in squash and tennis from 1988 to 1990. Her Majesty also represented Perak in swimming between 1981 and 1987. After obtaining her A-Levels from Prime College in 1992, she left for the United Kingdom to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Nottingham, graduating with first-class honours in July 1995. Her Majesty was also awarded for her outstanding final-year project. Her father-in-law, Sultan Azlan Shah, also studied law at the same university and obtained his Law Degree in 1953 before beginning his career at the English Bar in 1954.
Tuanku Zara and Sultan Nazrin Shah have known each other since the mid-90s. Upon returning from Britain in 1995, Tuanku Zara served at the national petroleum company, Petronas, in the Corporate Planning division for six years starting in December 1995. Her Majesty was also part of the team responsible for the successful development of Petronas' integrated petrochemical complexes in Kertih and Kuantan, which involved foreign petroleum companies such as BP, BASF, Dow Chemicals, and Mitsubishi.
Tuanku Zara also served as a Project Analyst in the Petronas Petrochemical Business Unit and was part of the core team that developed the Petronas brand, which is now part of Petronas' global branding strategy. Between February 1999 and October 2000, she served as a Product Manager at Petlin (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between Petronas, DSM of the Netherlands, and Sasol of South Africa. In 2005, Tuanku Zara was appointed Managing Director of Forthwave Consulting Sdn Bhd, a hydrocarbon consultancy firm.
Her Majesty married Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah on May 17, 2007, at Istana Iskandariah, Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar. The following day, she was proclaimed Raja Puan Besar of Perak, and on June 20, 2014, Raja Permaisuri of Perak. The royal couple was blessed with their first child on March 14, 2008, a prince named YM Raja Azlan Muzaffar Shah. Their second child is a princess born on August 2, 2011, named YM Raja Nazira Safya. Their son, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Azlan Muzzaffar Shah Ibni Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, was appointed as the Raja Kechil Besar of Perak Darul Ridzuan effective June 20, 2014.
On July 9, 2007, a purple hybrid orchid was named 'Dendrobium Tuanku Zara Salim' in conjunction with her visit to the 7th International Orchid Festival. On January 1, 2012, she was installed as the Chancellor of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris. Her Majesty is also the patron of the Perak Family Health Association, the Convent Girls Alumni (COGA), and the Girl Guides Association of Perak.
We offer our highest congratulations to Tuanku. May Tuanku always be blessed with long-lasting health as you support the Sultan of Perak in governing and leading the state of Perak towards great success. Daulat Tuanku! Long live Tuanku!
