The circumstances that led to me taking a photograph with the son of the reigning monarch of a Malaysian state were peculiar. He’s also the libertarian Malaysian think tank Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs.
I was having dinner with the other delegates at the 2018 Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations’ Asia conference in Kuala Lumpur. It wasn’t just any dinner, it was a dinner in the house where Crazy Rich Asians was filmed, Carcosi Seri Negara, a week before the film was released. The director was there at the dinner.
What was even crazier was that the Tunku was there as well, and his great grandfather signed the State Agreements at Carcosi Seri Negara forming the country of Malaysia ending British colonial rule. The same month that we were there also marked 60 years of that agreement, meaning that it was the 60th anniversary of the founding of Malaysia.
After the speeches, a couple of friends an I caught up with the Tunku just before dinner began.
“Your royal highness!” I yelled out to him. “Can I take a selfie with you?”
The startled royal turned around, looked at me, and smiled. “Why, of course!”
Tunku is a Malaysian royal title denoting prince or princess, it’s the same for both genders but only used in certain states. Other Malaysian states use other words to stylize their royals, so I’m not going to get into the incredibly complicated lexicon of Malaysian honorific
The Tunku’s British-education becomes apparent as soon as he utters his first word to you. He’s well-spoken, highly educated, and passionate about including youth in the policymaking process. His resumé made him the perfect Malaysian representative to address what some called the Davos of Harvard.
