Saturday 2 June 2012

Prime Minister's Car

What cars did our prime ministers use? What did our first prime minister use? He used a white Rolls Royce. The Rolls Royce was then bought over by Sultan Yahya Petra and it was brought back to Kelantan. Who owned the Rolls Royce in the first place?

I'm looking for a white Rolls Royce that once belonged to Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos. I believe that he had used it in the post-war, probably from 1945 onwards, mainly for to send his children to school. He had a chauffeur who wore a white suit. I have no other details at this time. Another account I heard was he lived in Sg Buloh.

Rolls Royce was produced in 1920s and ceased in 2002.

I have seen 3 Rolls Royce in Malaysia so far but I have not seen a white Rolls Royce till I saw one today at Muzium Kelantan in Kota Bharu.

The blue painted metal piece in front of the grill reads 'Tengku Mahkota Kelantan', which refers to Tuanku Yahya Petra.
Tengku Mahkota Kelantan royal car plate
This 1947 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith was used by Tunku Abdul Rahman and was then purchased by Tuanku Yahya Petra of Kelantan in the 1960s. This Rolls Royce and the other one next to it were on display at Muzium Kelantan. Photographed by me on 2 June 2012. 
YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjPSu1GarVI&feature=related


Spirit of Ecstasy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Limited

More recent photos, 27 December 2012. Man vs car - this Rolls Royce is really big. 
Tuanku Yahya Petra
(portrait from Who's Who in Malaysia 1971-1972)
Tuanku Yahya Petra Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Ibrahim was born on 10 December 1917 in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. He was educated at Francis Light School in Penang. In 1934 he then went to Britain for further studies for 5 years. He returned to Kelantan in 1939. He was proclaimed Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan on 1 February 1948. He was Regent in 1953 and 1958 when his father Sultan Ibrahim was away. Source: Who's Who in Malaysia 1971-1972.