A sultan, a kopitiam and the r

THE small kopitiam at the Kluang Station in Johor was full of people last Sunday. Despite the early morning drizzle, the kopitiam had more than its fair share of customers.

Its nasi Replica Furla lemak bungkus, half-boiled eggs and roti bakar were as popular as ever. Not to mention its kopi O. When I walked into the kopitiam, it was already 8am. Every seat was taken. I had to wait in line before I got a seat.

A couple of minutes after that, I tucked into my nasi lemak bungkus, roti bakar, half-boiled eggs and coffee. I was then ready to take on the world!

On that day, Kluang Station had a very special guest -- the Sultan of Johor no less. Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar was leading his Kembara Mahkota, held for the 12th time this year. On this occasion, the sultan took to the railroad instead of his favourite mode of transportation -- big bikes.

Every year, the sultan would tour all the districts, meeting as many of his subjects as possible. Apart from getting close to the people, the sultan gets a lot of feedback which would be passed on to the state for consideration and execution.

One of his subjects, Lim Jit Chiang, the kopitiam operator, said: "The Tuanku gave everyone in the cafe a surprise. He walked into my cafe just after 6.30am and ordered breakfast.

"I knew His Royal Highness slept in the royal carriage, parked just next to my kopitiam. But I didn't expect to see him in my kopitiam! And so early in the morning! We were all stunned that we forgot to take pictures with His Royal Highness.

Dolce & Gabbana

"Maybe one day the Tuanku may drop by again and my staff and I can take some photographs together."

Indeed, it is the sultan's manner in engaging with his subjects that has endeared him to the people. He would dispense with protocol at any possible opportunity.

He could have had a quiet breakfast in his carriage, a very comfortable one at that. But he chose to have an early breakfast in the kopitiam instead. The fame of the Kluang Station kopitiam has spread far and wide. It has served some of the country's rich and famous.

For many people, especially the ordinary folks from Johor, the Kembara Mahkota was an awaited annual event. In the small town of Chamek, about 15 minutes by rail from Kluang, it looked as if the whole population was waiting for him at a makeshift stop.

He was mobbed soon after he alighted. Everyone was excited and mothers carrying babies tried to shake his hands. The sultan obliged as much as he could. To many of the village folks, this was the nearest they had ever got to the sultan.

At a private audience in Kuala Lumpur about one week before the Kembara Mahkota, the sultan said this year's tour would continue with a second leg by road. He's really looking forward to it, as much as his subjects.

* The writer is also a blogger at ahmadtalib.blogspot.com. He can be reached at

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