Iman Afzan

Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan (born 11 November 1992) is a Malaysian princess and mental health activist. She is the oldest daughter of Abdullah of Pahang, the 6th Sultan of Pahang and 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia. She serves as the royal patron of the J’keb Foundation and the Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association. Afzan was appointed by the World Health Organization to serve as the International Patron of World Mental Health Day in 2020.

Iman Afzan
Tengku Puteri Raja
Born (1992-11-11) 11 November 1992
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Spouse
Tengku Abu Bakar Ahmad Tengku Arif Bendahara Tengku Abdullah
​
​
(m. 2018)​
Issue
  • Tengku Zayn Edin Shah
HouseBendahara
FatherAbdullah of Pahang
MotherJulia Rais
ReligionSunni Islam
Occupationactivist

Early life

Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan was born at Pantai Hospital in Kuala Lampur on 11 November 1992.[1] She is the daughter of Abdullah of Pahang, the 6th Sultan of Johor and 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and his second wife Julia Rais, a former actress and model.[2][3] She is of British descent and Malay descent. She is King Abdullah's oldest daughter and the oldest child from his second marriage.[4][5]

She attended the University of Nottingham in England where she studied political science.[5][6]

Activism and patronages

On 18 September 2019, Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan accepted her appointment as the patron of the J’keb Foundation, which provides support for underprivileged teenagers and runs a transition home for aged-out orphans that are required to leave orphanages when they turn eighteen.[7]

Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan was named as the International Patron of World Mental Health Day in 2020 by the World Health Organization following a recommendation made by the World Federation for Mental Health.[4][8][9] Her term as international patron will end in October 2021.[8][10][11] She is also one of the jurors on the My Mind On Film Festival Competition.[12]

On 10 September 2020, World Suicide Prevention Day, Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan called for reform to suicide legislation in Malaysia, urging the federal government to decriminalize suicide in order to end the stigmatization of mental health, while speaking at the launch of the Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association's new crisis management centre at the Orchid Clubhouse in Petaling Jaya.[4][13] She stated that criminalizing suicide does not address the underlying factors and does not help reduce the number of suicides committed in Malaysia.[4] Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan went on to say that the current laws discourage people suffering with mental illnesses to seek help and treatment.[4] Elaborating on Malaysia's efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, she said she was certain that the country's public health standards should include mental healthcare.[4]

On 10 October 2020 she was joined by her father and her stepmother, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, in wearing green ribbons to show support for World Mental Health Day.[14]

On 5 November 2020 Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan hosted a virtual meeting via Zoom Video Communications with students at HELP University and abroad in the United Kingdom to discuss mental health at universities.[12] She addressed additional strains on mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing isolation from friends and family, and offered solutions to support good mental health.[12]

Marriage and issue

On 4 August 2018 Afzan married Tengku Abu Bakar Ahmad Tengku Arif Bendahara Tengku Abdullah.[15][5] She is a first cousin-once removed of her husband, who is a nephew of her grandfather, Ahmad Shah of Pahang[16]

On 23 July 2019 Afzan gave birth to a son, His Highness Tengku Zayn Edin Shah.[15][17]

Personal life

Afzan suffered from an anxiety disorder when she was a teenager.[18][19] She is a practitioner of Sunni Islam and considers herself "spiritual".[20]

Honours

References
  1. "Potret Cantik 3 Putri Raja Malaysia yang Ikut Berkunjung ke Kraton Yogyakarta". Tribun Jogja.
  2. Solehah, Attiqah (21 June 2019). ""Menempah Bidan" Royal Ceremony Of Agung's Daughter, Tunku Puteri Iman Afzan". Xtra.
  3. "Move over Kate and Meghan: 5 Malaysian royals who are making their mark". South China Morning Post. 23 March 2020.
  4. Xiang, Yap Wan (11 September 2020). "Agong's Daughter Calls For Decriminalisation Of Suicide". SAYS.
  5. "Jelita dan bijak, ini puteri-puteri raja Pahang". www.astroawani.com. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  6. Ng, Karmun (11 October 2020). "Meet Malaysia's International Patron of World Mental Health Day 2020, Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan".
  7. "King's daughter is new patron of foundation for underprivileged teenagers". The Mole.
  8. "Agong, permaisuri, anakanda pakai reben hijau". Berita Harian. 10 October 2020.
  9. "King's eldest daughter appointed World Mental Health Day 2020 international patron". The Star.
  10. "Agong, Permaisuri dan anakanda beriben hijau sempena Hari Kesihatan Mental Sedunia". www.astroawani.com. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  11. "Congratulations". www.kln.gov.my. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  12. "YAM TENGKU PUTERI IMAN AFZAN REACHES OUT TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH OF MALAYSIAN STUDENTS AT HOME AND IN UK". 6 November 2020.
  13. "What have Asian and European royals been up to during the pandemic?". CNA Luxury.
  14. "King, queen join daughter in showing support for World Mental Health Day". 10 October 2020.
  15. "Agong's daughter Tengku Iman gives birth to her first child — a baby boy | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com.
  16. "Monarchies Today - Royalty around the globe".
  17. "Agong, Raja Permaisuri timang cucu lelaki". www.astroawani.com. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  18. Times, New Straits (6 October 2019). "The strength within: Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan opens up to NST about mental health | New Straits Times". NST Online.
  19. "King of Malaysia's daughter, millennial mum and mental health advocate with supermodel looks – who is Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan?". www.msn.com.
  20. Times, New Straits (6 October 2019). "The strength within: Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan opens up to NST about mental health | New Straits Times". NST Online.
  21. "Eight of King's children receive Pahang state awards". Bernama. 15 August 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  22. "8 anakanda Agong terima darjah kebesaran Pahang" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 15 August 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.