Johor crown prince, Tunku Ismail to wed Cik Khaleeda on Friday

The Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, 30, will wed Cik Khaleeda Bustamam on Friday (Oct 24).

Johor Royal Council president Datuk Abdul Rahim Ramli said the engagement and solemnisation of marriage would take place at the Istana Bukit Serene at 10am.The solemnisation ceremony will be conducted by the Mufti of Johor Datuk Tahrir Samsuddin after the engagement ceremony.

Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar will present seven trays of wedding gifts to the bride, while the family of the bride will reciprocate by presenting nine trays to the groom.

According to Rahim, the 'merisik' tradition (to get acquainted with the family) was held on Sept 27 via an entourage headed by Johor Temenggong, Tunku Idris Sultan Iskandar.

During the ceremony, a flag will be flown by the state's army as well as the firing of seven shots of cannon by the Royal Artillery Regiment.

Born on July 16, 1993 in Kuala Lumpur, Khaleeda, 21, is the youngest child of five siblings Bustamam Daud and his wife, Aziyah Abdul Aziz.

She obtained her early education at Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Taman Seri Gombak before pursuing her secondary education at St George's Hanover Square, and Westminster Academy in London.

She then continued her studies at Sekolah Sri Utama, Kuala Lumpur and obtained her Malaysian Education Certificate (SPM) in 2010.

Cik Khaleeda would be bestowed the title Che Puan following the solemnisation of the marriage, said Abdul Rahim.

Abdul Rahim also announced that the 'persandingan' reception of Tunku Mahkota Johor and Cik Khaleeda would be held at 7.30 pm on Nov 8 at the Istana Besar, Johor Baharu.

The ceremony would be held on a moderate scale but steeped in the Johor royal and military tradition, which is expected to be attended by 1,200 guests from within and outside the country.

Among those expected to attend are the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah; the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah; Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the Johor state executive councillors and Johor state assemblymen.

Abdul Rahim said there would not be any media coverage for the event.

The Tunku Mahkota of Johor, who was born on June 30, 1984, in Johor Baharu, is the eldest of six children of the Sultan of Johor and Raja Zarith Sofia.

He received his early education in Johor Baharu before pursuing his studies at the Australian International School, Singapore, in 1999 and Hale School in Perth, Australia.

From July 17, 2003, to Dec 11, 2004, Tunku Ismail underwent military training at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, India, and was commissioned as a lieutenant.

Tunku Ismail created history when he became the first foreigner to lead the Cavalry Regiment of the Indian Army to salute the Indian President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in conjunction with India's 58th National Day on Jan 20, 2007.