Johor Queen pays tribute to Indians who took care of royals

KUALA LUMPUR — Disappointed by the riots at Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya, Johor Queen Zarith Sofia Idris on Sunday (Dec 2) expressed gratitude to four Malaysian Indian men who had become part of the royal family.

She said the royal family have many friends of other races but it were these men who had come across her mind instantly amid ongoing scrutiny on the Malaysian Indians at present.

Queen Zarith started the list with the family doctors who had taken care of her family, including her late son Jalil who died of cancer three years ago.

“Our family has not stopped grieving but this year, the grief is mixed with a kind of particular sadness: a sadness to see that racial intolerance and misunderstanding have come to the fore again.

“With the rioting which took place at the site of the Indian temple in Subang Jaya recently, where a Malay fireman was injured seriously, and the racial tension that flared up afterwards, I thought of all the Indian friends and staff who have been part of my family’s everyday life,” she posted on her Facebook, tonight.

According to her, doctors Subramanyam Balan and Singaraveloo had taken care of her son Jalil while he was undergoing cancer treatment, and attended house calls even during odd hours whenever any of her family members fall sick.

The Queen said her family had become comfortable with them and had come to trust them into looking the health of the royal family members, ever since her children was little.

“Over the years, whenever my husband or my children were ill in the middle of the night, it would be one of these two doctors who would rush over and treat them.

“It didn’t matter what time it was: whether it was before midnight or 3 in the morning.

“When Jalil took his last breath, it was Balan who looked at the clock and confirmed the time of his death,” she said.

She then mentioned Mohan, who took care of the Tunku Mahkota Johor since he was only a year old.

She said it was Mohan who taught all her children how to swim and kept watch over them whenever they want to go out swimming.

“He’s been their swimming coach, their playmate and their ‘nanny’.

“When my children were still young, and if my husband was away from home, I would ask Mohan to stay at our house because I was frightened of being in a house of just children and women (my maids),” she said.

She said Mohan would not sleep until the other staff had come in to work in the morning and noted how she had trusted him with her life and the life of her children.

The next was Sugumaran, her husband’s police aide-de-camp, who she said had proven and shown his love and loyalty to the ruler.

“He has always remained honest and sincere — even if it means getting yelled at (which happens quite often!)

“When I was on holiday in England in 2009, it was Sugumaran who became my youngest son’s companion and who helped him pick apples from the tree; or feed the ducks in the park,” she said. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT