Tunku Puan Zanariah Iskandar (Jawi: تونكو ڤوان زانريه إسكندر), formerly known as Sultanah Zanariah (born Tengku Zanariah binti Tengku Ahmad; 5 July 1940 – 17 March 2019), was the second wife of the fourth sultan of modern Johor, Sultan Iskandar from their marriage in 1961 until his death in 2010. She served as Raja Permaisuri Agong (queen consort of Malaysia) between 1984 and 1989.

Her sister, Tunku Puan Nora formerly Sultanah Nora was married to the third Sultan of modern Johor, Sultan Ismail.

Early life

Born on 5 July 1940, in Dusun Green Palace, Pasir Mas, Kelantan. Tengku Zanariah was the seventh child of HH Tengku Panglima Raja of Kelantan from among nine siblings. She came from the Kelantan royal family. (later Sultan Iskandar) who was also studying there. They later married in 1961 (his second marriage) and she later became the mother of six of Tunku Mahmood's children.

Tengku Zanariah is also the former beauty queen and historically was the first ever Miss International Malaysia titleholders. She went to compete internationally representing Federation of Malaya at the first Miss International beauty pageant in 1960 at the Long Beach, California, United States. She failed to place in the semi-finals.

Sultanah of Johor

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Her husband became Sultan of Johor in 1981. Although she was known as Sultanah, she was never formally crowned. MAWAR also collected donations for distribution among flood victims in Johor as well as the less fortunate and the needy.

Her husband died in 2010 and was succeeded by her stepson Tunku Ibrahim Ismail. In 2011, a government circular issued removed the honorific prefix of 'Sultanah' from her given name, and instructed that she be referred to instead as 'Tunku Puan Zanariah Iskandar' or simply 'Tunku Zanariah'. The current royal court also does not recognise her as a former holder of the title Sultanah of Johor.

  • Royal Family Order of Kelantan (D.K.)
  • Royal Family Order of Kedah (D.K.)

Foreign Honours

  • 50x50px Order of Laila Utama First Class (Darjah Kerabat Laila Utama, D.K., 4 April 1987)
  • 50x50px Grand Gwanghwa Medal of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (3 November 1988)

Places named after her

Several places were named after her, including:

  • Sultanah Zanariah Library, a library in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

References

Notes

Further reading

  • Negara Brunei Darussalam: A Biographical Dictionary (1860-1996), A. V. M. Horton, 1996,
  • Challenging Times, Abdul Rahman, J. S. Solomon, published by Pelanduk Publications, 1985,
  • Information Malaysia, published by Berita Publications Sdn. Bhd., 1985
  • Maklumat Lisan Johor: Projek Pelajar-Pelajar Lewartawanan, Kajian Sebaran Am, Institut Teknologi MARA, Biroteks, published by Institut Teknologi MARA, 1987
  • Malaysian Protocol and Correct Forms of Address, Abdullah Ali, published by Times Books International, 1986,
  • Sistem beraja di Malaysia, Tan Chee Khoon, published by Pelanduk Publications, 1985