Candra Malik

Manohara Odelia Pinot. (Photo: Yudhi Sukma Wijaya, JG)

Mano Gets Own Royal Title in Solo

Solo. Former teenage model-cum-instant celebrity, Manohara Odelia Pinot, who shot to fame following her short-lived marriage to a Malaysian prince, now has a royal title of her very own.

Sunan Pakubuwono XIII Hangabehi, the head of the royal line in Solo, Central Java, bestowed the 17-year-old with the royal title of Kanjeng Mas Ayu as part of the pomp to mark his fifth anniversary on the throne.

The royal spokeswoman, Princess Gusti Raden Ayu Koes Murtiyah, said the award was an intellectual rebuke to the royal family of Kelantan, to which Manohara’s husband belongs.

“She was given the royal title because, first, she is still the legitimate wife of a prince,” she said. “And secondly, to remind the family of Tengku Fakhry that the domestic issues of a royal family should not be revealed so openly to the public.”

Manohara left her Malaysian husband Tengku Temenggong Muhammad Fakhry in May, claiming domestic abuse. Fakhry claims Manohara and her mother owe him more than 972,000 Malaysian ringgit ($272,000).

Gusti Murtiyah criticized the Kelantan court for failing to settle the marital problems quietly.

“Not every woman can marry a prince, or even a king. Manohara’s status was elevated by this privilege, but why does it have to turn into a disaster like this? Why hasn’t the Kelantan Sultanate sent a competent envoy to settle the matter? Why draw it out like this?” she said.

Manohara’s mother, Daisy Fajarina, claimed that her daughter had been mistreated, saying that she was not allowed to even visit Manohara while she was in Malaysia. Manohara famously ran away from the prince while his royal family was visiting Singapore.

The awarding of honorary titles by Solo’s ruler is an ostentatious tradition practiced to celebrate royal anniversaries. This year marks the fifth year on the throne for the current ruler, who controversially took the crown in 2004 after Pakubuwono XII died without leaving a clear heir.

Among the other recipients of the royal titles were Dorce Gamalama, a multitalented transsexual entertainer, who was bestowed with the title of Mas Ayu Tumenggung.

“I cannot express the happiness I feel in my heart,” Dorce said. “For me, the title constitutes a solemn moral responsibility that I have to bear.”

Gusti Murtiyah said that Dorce merited the title for her service to arts and culture.

In addition to the awarding of royal titles, this year’s ceremony was marked by a number of traditional festivities, and will conclude with the Tedhak Sinten ritual on Sunday — a public offering made by the Solo Royal Palace.

The festivities also included performances by the Srimpi Ludiromadu and Wireng Tohjoyo Rewantaka dance groups, as well as theater by Kusumoyudho.

“Any one can enter the palace grounds to watch the royal party,” Gusti Murtiyah said, adding however that palace protocol should be respected within the royal grounds.

Your View

See Result