Johor exco member Tee Siew Kiong has denied that the imminent tea party, hosted by the state monarch Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar for the leaders of the Chinese associations, is an attempt to restore the monarchy.

He clarified that the sultan has no intention to hold a royal court meeting during the party as claimed by some news reports.

“That (to hold a royal court meeting) was merely their words of description... It is only a banquet, a meeting to exchange views,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted yesterday.

Tee, who is the exco in charge of tourism, domestic trade and consumerism of Johor, stressed that the tea party has nothing to with the restoration of the monarchy.

Instead, he said, it was to revive the historical tradition of the state, which was a tea party hosted by the ruler for the Chinese community in the Chinese Hall (Dewan Cina) of the Johor palace.

“We have not thought about this (to restore the monarchy). Our aim is to revive the historical tradition.

“There had already been such a tea party since 141 years ago. This is good for the society and the people of the state. We must revive it as for our younger generation to understand history and to bring a positive impact for future development of the state,” he said.

It was reported that the sultan will be hosting a tea party for 50 leaders of the Chinese community in the state on Sept 21 at the Chinese Hall in Istana Besar, Johor Baru.

The event was first announced by Tee, who is also the main coordinator of the function, last Sunday.

The hall is also a place where the late Sultan Abu Bakar held court every Wednesday during the late 19th century, to discuss major affairs of the state, Tee was quoted as saying.

According to news reports, Sultan Abu Bakar held the tea party at the Chinese Hall for the Chinese community in 1875.

Since then, the late Sultan Ibrahim Abu Bakar, who is the great grandfather of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, also organised similar events in 1923, 1930, 1933, 1935 and 1951.

Sixty-five years later, the upcoming tea party will be the seventh since 1875.

Chinese traditional garments worn

According to Tee, the leaders of the Chinese community and him had reached a consensus for having such events, before it was granted by the sultan.

“We have reached a consensus with the leaders of the Chinese community. I raised this matter with the sultan and it was granted. The sultan thinks that it is a meaningful occasion,” he added.

Tee said that the meeting would discuss, among others, about the concept of ‘Bangsa Johor’, how to promote unity and the economic development of Johor.

When asked whether there would be any discussion on political matters, he said it was up to the attendees.

Tee said that the sultan had agreed to his suggestion to serve the food from the five dialect clans and there will be also traditional performances.

He also said that the attendees would wear traditional Chinese garments.

“The traditional Chinese garments are requested by the sultan because they are the symbolic costumes of the Chinese,” he added.