Violet Coulson

Violet Coulson was the second wife of Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Tunku had met Coulson in 1927, during his second year as a law student in London. She was an attractive lady who managed a restaurant where many Malayan students had their meals. When Tunku got tired of his law studies, he and Coulson would sometimes go dancing together. In 1933, while the Tunku was still married to his first wife Meriam Chong, he brought Violet to visit Medan, Indonesia.

When news of Meriam's death reached Coulson she handed over the management of her restaurant in London and sailed for Singapore without the Tunku's knowledge. Upon arriving in Singapore, she wrote to the Tunku informing him of her arrival. Tunku immediately took the train to Singapore and met Coulson at her hotel. Together they talked about old times and their long friendship.

Tunku secretly married Coulson in Geylang Serai, Singapore, witnessed by Syed Ahmad al-Sagoff, according to Islamic rites. After their marriage, Coulson stayed in Penang, and Tunku stayed alone in Kuala Nerang, where he was District Officer, in order to avoid public criticism.

There was a law in Kedah which forbade members of the royal family to marry non-Malays without the prior approval of the Sultan of Kedah or the Regent. Tunku Ibrahim, the Regent, was known to be strongly opposed to mixed marriages, but he died unexpectedly in 1934 and was succeeded as Regent by Tunku Mahmud, the Sultan's younger brother, who was more broadminded and gave consent to the marriage. This enabled Coulson to move to Kuala Nerang to be with her husband, but the Secretary to the Government showed his disapproval by transferring the Tunku to the isolated post of District Officer of Langkawi.

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