In a remarkable turn of events, a Malaysian man made headlines when he posed as a prince during a visit to Germany, capturing the curiosity of the local populace and sparking a series of events that left many questioning his true identity.
The "Malaysian Prince's" Grand Entrance in Germany
On June 4, 2019, an individual identifying himself as a "Malaysian prince" named Sutan Mohammed Amzari Bin Abas arrived in Rostock, a prominent city on the German Baltic coast. Rostock, with its population of 200,000, stood as a significant backdrop for this audacious act. Local newspapers buzzed with excitement as news of the alleged prince's visit spread like wildfire.
Frank Marco Günzel, a German entrepreneur and owner of Crystal Room Innovation Academy, played a pivotal role in orchestrating this unusual encounter. Günzel had arranged an event, inviting entrepreneurs from across Germany to meet the Malaysian prince. Representatives from cities including Hamburg, Nuremberg, Hanover, and Flensburg converged to pitch their ideas and explore potential business connections with the enigmatic "royal" guest.
Amzari's Charitable Intentions
Amzari, in an interview with a German news outlet (note: the article has since been removed), expressed his willingness to facilitate connections between international business representatives and key figures, including politicians, in Malaysia. He acknowledged the challenges faced by foreign businesspersons seeking to establish contacts in a new country and was keen to offer his assistance.
The Malaysian Embassy's Denial
However, the situation took an intriguing turn when the Malaysian embassy in Germany caught wind of the story through local media reports. The embassy issued a statement denying any knowledge of the purported prince. Nicole Zeisig, the embassy's spokesperson, expressed skepticism, stating, "We can say with almost 100 percent certainty that Mr. Amzari Abas is, at least, not a member of one of the nine Malay royal families." Zeisig further emphasized that the embassy had not been notified of Amzari's visit, a departure from the customary protocol of informing the embassy of VIP arrivals. She explained that members of Malay royal families typically bear prefixes like Raja, Tengku, or Tunku, which were conspicuously absent from Amzari's title.
To clarify his identity, the embassy requested his full name as it appeared on his passport.
Frank Günzel's Defense
Undeterred by these allegations, Frank Günzel continued to assert Amzari's royal lineage on his website. He contended that Malaysia's complex royal hierarchy made it challenging to ascertain the identity of a prince. Günzel elaborated, "Sutan comes from the Sultanate in Mandailing Natal in Sumatra, where his ancestors, like many other nobles there, had to flee to the Malaysian peninsula." He claimed that Amzari had strong connections, having served as a senior secretary to former Prime Minister Najib Razak. Günzel concluded by emphasizing the success of the visit, highlighting the positive outcomes that emerged from the event.
Intriguing and perplexing, the tale of the Malaysian who posed as a prince in Germany remains an enigma, with questions about his true identity and motivations lingering in the air.
