Marriage
Tunku Abdul Rahman met Meriam in Kulim, where he had just been transferred as Assistant District Officer. Some historical reports state that Meriam was personally chosen by Tunku's mother, Che Menjalara who was of Thai descent herself. According to reports, Che Menjalara forced Tunku to marry her, despite Tunku's refusal to do so. However, in the end they were married according to royal customs at the Kedah palace. Other reports state that they were married by the local Kadi in Tunku's government quarters.
Soon after Meriam's conversion to Islam she learnt to pray and when the fasting month began, she persuaded Tunku to do so too. Their marriage resulted in two children, Tunku Khadijah and Tunku Ahmad Nerang.
In 1935, Tunku was promoted to be District Officer of Padang Terap. The post of District Officer Padang Terap was an unpopular one. Kuala Nerang was notorious for the prevalence of malaria. It was here that Meriam gave birth to their second child, Tunku Ahmad Nerang.
Read more about this topic: Lady Meriam
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