Visit of the new British High Commissioner to Istana Iskandariah, 1954

Sir Donald Charles McGillivray was the last British High Commissioner in Malaya who served from 1954 until independence in 1957. During his first tour of north Malaya in 1954, he was received by Sultan Yussuf Izzudin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Jalil at Kuala Kangsar after his official visit to Penang. Sir Donald took the royal salute in front of Istana Iskandariah, following which he met members of the Perak Royal Family in the Balai Rong Seri.

Sir Donald and Lady Louisa McGillivray meeting members of the Perak Royal Family in the Balai Rong Seri at Istana Iskandariah.

Sultan Yussuf Izzudin having a word with Sir Donald while Raja Perempuan Taayah looks on.

An informal and relaxed group shot of Lady Louisa, Sultan Yussuf Izzudin Shah, Sir Donald and Raja Perempuan Taayah after the afternoon's proceedings at the Istana. (Photo courtesy of the family of Almarhum Raja Di-Hilir Ekram ibni Sultan Yussuf Izzudin)

A banquet at the Istana to honour the visit of Sir Donald and Lady Louisa. Raja Muda Idris ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar is seen seated to Lady Louisa's left. (Photo courtesy of the family of Almarhum Raja Di-Hilir Ekram ibni Sultan Yussuf Izzudin)

Sir Donald and Lady Louisa proposing a toast. The ADC to Sultan Yussuf Izzudin, Raja Dato' Amir Raja Razman, is seen on Lady Louisa's right. (Photo courtesy of the family of Almarhum Raja Di-Hilir Ekram ibni Sultan Yussuf Izzudin)

Sultan Yussuf Izzudin presenting a gift in the form of a keris to Sir Donald. (Photo courtesy of the family of Almarhum Raja Di-Hilir Ekram ibni Sultan Yussuf Izzudin)

Raja Perempuan Taayah also presenting a gift to Lady Louisa. (Photo courtesy of the family of Almarhum Raja Di-Hilir Ekram ibni Sultan Yussuf Izzudin)

The Pathé newsreel of Sir Donald’s visit, which includes the scenes at Istana Iskandariah, can be viewed here. Following his Kuala Kangsar visit, Sir Donald proceeded south to visit the men of the Kinta Home Guard and Salak Baru new village.

[This newsreel of Sir Donald’s visit to Kuala Kangsar is the copyrighted property of British Pathé. Many thanks to Megat Samsuar Aznil for providing the last five photographs.]

Reference: Donald MacGillivray. wikipedia.com

Celebration of DYMM Sultan Yussuf Izzudin’s 62nd birthday on British Pathé News, 1953

This is an unused newsreel film of DYMM Sultan Yussuf Izzudin‘s 62nd birthday celebration in Ipoh, taken by Pathé News in January 1953. The film shows the presence of the British Advisor of Perak (likely to be Sir Dato’ Watherstone I. Blelloch, British Advisor 1951-6) and both British (12th Royal Lancers) and Malayan armed forces in the guard of honour. Apparently, this was the first time that the celebration of the Perak Sultan’s birthday was held outside Kuala Kangsar since the reign of Almarhum Sultan Idris Murshidul Azzam Shah. The celebration was held at the Ipoh Padang and for the first time, the general public was able to witness certain adat istiadat including the menjunjung duli as seen below.

As it is not possible to embed the film clip on SembangKuala, the following screenshots summarise the event filmed in Ipoh. The full clip can be viewed here at the British Pathé News archival website. It needs to be mentioned that this newsreel does not contain any audio.

Sultan Yussuf Izzudin 's arrival at the parade ground, greeted by the British Advisor for Perak.

Also present were (from left) DYTM Raja Muda Idris ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, DYAM Raja Bendahara Abdul Rashid ibni Almarhum Sultan Idris, DYAM Raja Di-Hilir Kamaralzaman Raja Mansur and the Dato' Panglima Kinta Hj Mohd Eusoff Mohd Yusuff.

Sultan Yussuf Izzudin inspecting the guard of honour comprising both Malayan and British armed forces. In front of Tuanku are (?)Raja Ekram ibni Sultan Yussuf Izzudin (left) and Tuanku's ADC, Raja Dato' Amir Raja Razman.

The nobat playing as Sultan Yussuf Izzudin heads towards the audience chamber, accompanied by the three Raja Bergelar.

Abdul Wahab bin Toh Muda Abdul Aziz, the Perak Menteri Besar, pledging loyalty to Sultan Yussuf Izzudin. Behind him are YAM Raja Musa ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Aziz (left) and the Dato' Panglima Kinta.

Sultan Yussuf Izzudin reading his birthday speech.

Sultan Yussuf Izzudin awarding medals to those on his birthday honours list.

Raja Bendahara Abdul Rashid and Raja Puan Kechil Aishah Raja Saidin.

Raja Muda Idris and Raja Puan Besar Noor Izah.

This appears to be Raja Musa ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Aziz performing the menjunjung duli, according to Pathé News, "paying homage" to Sultan Yussuf Izzudin. The last photo shows Sultan Yussuf Izzudin sprinkling rice as a sign of acceptance. (Click to enlarge)

Whilst Pathé News described the above as “paying homage”, according to SembangKuala’s consultant editor Raja Kobat Salehuddin ibni Almarhum Raja Muda Musa, the above photos show Raja Kechil Sulong Musa ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Aziz menjunjung duli on receiving the rank of Raja Kechil Besar.

Dirgahayu! One of the many signs around the town of Ipoh commemorating Sultan Yussuf Izzudin's birthday.

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Footnote: A newsreel was a form of short documentary film prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, regularly released in a public presentation place and containing filmed news stories and items of topical interest. It was a source of news, current affairs and entertainment for millions of moviegoers until television supplanted its role in the 1950s. Newsreels are now considered significant historical documents, since they are often the only audiovisual record of historical and cultural events of those times. Pathé Newsreels were produced from 1910 until the 1970s, when the newsreels in general stopped production. Pathé News today are known as British Pathé and their archive of over 90,000 reels is fully digitised and online. -Wikipedia

[This newsreel of Sultan Yussuf Izzudin’s birthday is the copyrighted property of British Pathé.]

Celluloid memories: A group photo with Almarhum Sultan Abdul Aziz

Raja Ngah Ali is seen here standing in the middle, in between Almarhum Sultan Abdul Aziz (left) and Almarhum Raja Muda Yussuf Izzudin. Also present in the photo are Raja Badri Shah bin Raja Harun Al Rashid (standing leftmost) and Raja Amin Shah (on Raja Ngah Ali's left). This photo was possibly taken c. 1938-41. (Photo courtesy of YM Raja Izaliah Raja Dato Badri Shah)

The event during which this photo was taken is not known and shows Almarhum Sultan Abdul Aziz with Raja Muda Yussuf Izzudin, Raja Ngah Ali bin Raja Iskandar, Raja Amin Shah bin Raja Ali and Raja Badri Shah bin Raja Harun Al Rashid (private secretary to Almarhum Sultan Abdul Aziz at that time).

Raja Ngah Ali bin Raja Iskandar was at this time the Raja Kechil Bongsu and was later Raja Kechil Sulong. He was the great-grandson of Almarhum Sultan Ali Al-Mukammal Inayat Shah (SP24 1865-1871).

Raja Amin Shah bin Raja Ali interestingly was the great-grandson of both Almarhum Sultan Abdullah Muhammad Shah I (SP22 1851-1857) and Almarhum Sultan Jaafar Muazzam Shah (SP23 1857-1865), as his grandparents were Raja Pandak Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdullah Muhammad Shah I and Raja Nandak binti Almarhum Sultan Jaafar. This point is of some interest as Almarhum Sultan Abdullah I was embroiled in a civil war with Almarhum Sultan Jaafar (at that time Raja Muda and was effectively the de facto Sultan during the war) from 1851 to 1857.

Reference:
1. YM Raja Nur Jannah Raja Hirdan