By IVAN LOH and CHAN LI LEEN
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
Photo by SAIFUL BAHRI
IT WAS not so much of a last minute rush but more of getting the perfect dress for a special occasion.
Movie star Datuk Michelle Yeoh was filming in Bangkok when she received news from her mother, Janet Yeoh last weekend that she would be conferred the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak by the Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah.
“I contacted Michelle two days before the investiture ceremony, that she has to come back to accept the award.
Proud moment: Sultan Azlan Shah conferring the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak (SPMP) which carries the title Datuk Seri to Yeoh at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar. On the right is Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Bainun.
“That’s when the mad rush to get her a dress began,” Janet told The Star.
Janet, who accompanied Michelle to Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar on Tuesday to receive the award, which carries the title “Datuk Seri”, said she gave her daughter’s measurements to Shan-Lyn boutique owner Chong Shan Mei last Sunday.
Janet added that Chong, a good friend of hers, managed to sew an orange lace baju kurung within 24 hours and had it delivered to her house in Ipoh.
“It was the same scenario in 2001 when Michelle received the Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak award from the Sultan of Perak,” she said.
However, upon trying it on the eve of the investiture ceremony, Yeoh discovered that the baju kurung was too tight.
“Fortunately, while Michelle was in Bangkok, she had managed to get fashion designer Datuk Bernard Chandran to design her a kebaya, just in case,” Janet said.
Michelle, who eventually wore Chandran’s design to the palace, said that it was an immense honour for her and her family.
“I was so surprised when I got a call from my mother. She told me I had to come back,” said the Ipoh-born actress.
Recounting the moment as she walked up to receive the award from the Sultan, she said: “I was really nervous as I did not attend the rehearsals.
“The palace official said to me ‘Datuk, walk slowly’ and that made me laugh.”
Michelle also related that while they were at the royal waiting hall, the Sultan had told her that the royal family had watched her latest film The Lady.
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