Ahmad Tajuddin
Encyclopedia
Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Akhazul Khairi Waddien ibni Almarhum Sir Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam II (commonly referred to as Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin), KCMG, KBE (June 4, 1913 – June 4, 1950) was the 27th sultan
of Brunei
from September 11, 1924 until his death. After the death of his father, Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II
, due to his young age of 11, the reign was temporarily held by a Council of Regency whose member consist of Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman and Pengiran Anak Mohammad Yassin from September 11, 1924 to September 19, 1931. In 1927, he officially opened the Brunei-Tutong Highway. It was during his rule that the conglomerate of British Malayan Petroleum Company and Shell
struck oil in Padang Berawa, now known as Seria
.
In 1932, he visited England. In 1941, the Japanese landed in Brunei and he was given a pension
by the Japanese army. In 1945, the federated army landed and liberated Brunei. In 1946, the Brunei National Anthem, Allah Peliharakan Sultan
was composed. He was knighted and bestowed with KCMG by the king of the United Kingdom on September 20, 1949 in commemoration of his Silver Jubilee
. He died in Singapore
whilst on his way to England. After his untimely death from natural causes at the age of 37, he was succeeded by his brother, Omar Ali Saifuddin III
.
, Sultan Alauddin Mahmud Shah. From this marriage, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin had only one daughter and heir, YTM Pengiran Anak Puteri Noorehsani, who was born on 15 October 1935.
YTM Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Noorehsani was born at Klang
, Selangor
, 15 October 1935. She was educated privately. Raised to the title of Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Puteri Besar, in anticipation of her appointment as Heiress Apparent by her father, on the 1st June 1950. She is married to Tengku Pengiran Bin Tengku Abdul Aziz Shah and had three sons Pg Anak Tengku Fauzi, Pg Anak Tengku Fadhi & Pg Anak Tengku Farouk.
Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin was also married his 'unofficial wife' /concubine or locally known as 'gundik', Kadayang Amas (deceased) prior to his marriage to Tengku Raihani. From this marriage, they had 3 daughters called the 'Belababs':
YTM Pengiran Anak Datin Seri Setia Hajjah Siti Saerah [Belabab Besar], born in Brunei Town, 1928. Educated at George School, Jalan Tutong
, Brunei Town. She married Y.A.M. Tengku Muhammad Khalid Shah Al-Haj Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan ‘Ala ud-din Sulaiman Shah Tengku Indira Bijaya di-Raja of Kuala Langat
and Sepang
. From her first marriage, she had two children, Pg Anak Tengku Noorakmar & Pg Anak Tengku Noorashikin. She later divorced Tengku Khalid and married a lecturer, Haji Muhammad ‘Ali bin Tamin, and had three sons and two daughters from the second marriage - Huzaimah, Rohani, Asrul Hayat, Shamsul Hayat & Muliani Hayat.
2) YTM Pengiran Anak Datin Seri Setia Hajjah Siti Zubaidah (deceased) [Belabab Tengah]
3) YTM Pengiran Anak Datin Seri Setia Hajjah Siti Halimah (deceased) [Belabab Damit], born in Brunei Town, 1935. She was educated privately. Married to Pengiran Haji Muhammad Yakub Bin Pg Temenggong Sahibul Bahar Pangiran Haji Muhammad. Died at Bandar Seri Begawan, 4 January 2009 (buried at Royal Mausoleum, Jalan Khutbah Makam di-Raja). They had 4 sons and 5 daughters; Pg Anak Maharpajun, Pg Anak Bahar, Pg Anak Ishak, Pg Anak Hisamuddin, Pg Anak Zainon, Pg Anak Roheda, Pg Anak Nani, Pg Anak Baharulalam and Pg Anak Norulayun
His Royal Highness Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam II had encouraged the teaching and learning of Islam in Brunei. He also built a mosque in the capital even though during his reign, Brunei's revenue from oil had not yet materialised.
The mosque was popularly known as Masjid Marbut Pak Tunggal but it was officially known as Masjid Pekan Brunei — the Brunei Town Mosque. The mosque was used by Bruneians staying in the capital before it was destroyed by Allied bombings during the Second World War.
His Royal Highness Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam died young. He died in 1924 at the age of thirty five and his son, Pengiran Muda Ahmad Tajuddin, ascended the throne.
His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin was only eleven years old when he ascended the throne and became the 27th Sultan of Brunei. Similarly like his father when he ascended the throne, being a minor, the reign was again temporarily held by a Council of Regency on his behalf until he came of age. The Council then consisted of Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman and Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Mohammad Yassin. The Council reigned Brunei from 11 September 1924, to 19 September 1931.
His Royal Highness was the first Sultan to receive formal education at the palace. From a very young age, His Royal Highness studied Islamic Knowledge under a specially appointed religious official. He was also taught English by a European teacher from the age of fourteen.
His Royal Highness was very active. In 1927, he officially opened the Brunei-Tutong Highway. It was during his rule that the conglomerate of British Malayan Petroleum Company and Shell struck oil in Padang Berawa, now known as Seria.
In 1929, he opened the first modern hospital in Brunei Darussalam. It was a thirty-bed hospital. Before that hospital was opened, there was no government doctor or hospital in Brunei. In 1932, he also managed to visit England.
The year before that His Royal Highness had assumed the throne. On 19 September 1931, he was only eighteen years old. The official coronation however took place almost nine years later on 17 March 1940. Even though it would take almost nine years when he was officially coronated, he was still the Sultan of Brunei.
As Sultan he had married Tengku Ampuan Raihani binti Sultan Alaudin Sulaiman Shah, the daughter of Sultan Alaudin Sulaiman Shah, the Sultan of Selangor. The nikah ceremony was held at the Jame Rahmah Mosque in Klang, Selangor. The wedding took place on 6 May 1934. Slightly more than a year later in October 1935, Her Royal Highness gave birth to a princess named Pengiran Anak Puteri Noorehsani.
During the World War II, in 1941, the Japanese landed in Brunei. His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin retained his throne during the war and was bestowed with a pension and Japanese honours. However he had very little to do with the Japanese during the occupation and he together with the royal family left Brunei to stay at a temporary palace at Tantuya in Limbang towards the end of the Second World War. In 1945, the allied army landed and liberated Brunei from the Japanese. The British Military Administration (BMA) took over the running of the government. It was in 1946, before the government took over from British Military Administration.
Like his father before him, His Royal Highness too was concerned with the expansion and improvement of formal education as well as that of religious education.
His Royal Highness was also a keen writer. Among others he wrote a book called the "Panduan Keselamatan" which contained useful advice. These were some of His Majesty's contribution during his reign.
It was also during the reign of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin that saw Brunei Darussalam having her own national anthem "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" or "God save the Sultan". In 1947, the national anthem was composed by Awang Besar Sagap and lyrics written by Pengiran Mohammad Yussof Bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim.
That same year, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin bestowed the title "wazir" to his brother, Pengiran Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien.
On 20 September 1949, His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin celebrated his Silver Jubilee or the 25th anniversary of ascending the throne. At the ceremony His Royal Highness was knighted and bestowed with the KBE by the British High Commissioner to Brunei on behalf of King George VI.
The ceremony was attended by the Commissioner General of Southeast Asia and representatives from neighbouring countries.
A few months after the celebration, His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin was on his way to Britain for an official visit. Unfortunately he was taken ill and later died in Singapore of a haemorrhage. It was 4 June 1950 and His Royal Highness died at the young age of thirty six.
After his untimely death from natural causes, he was succeeded by his brother who became His Royal Highness Sultan 'Omar Ali Saifuddin III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei. His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin did not have a male heir.
His Royal Highness reign represented the start of a new era in Brunei. The discovery of oil changed the whole course of Brunei's history and enabled faster development in all sectors of the country. The expansion and improvement of formal education and his encouragement of religious education were some of his additional contributions to Brunei Darussalam.
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
of Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
from September 11, 1924 until his death. After the death of his father, Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II
Muhammad Jamalul Alam II
Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam ibni al-Marhum Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin, KCMG was the 26th Sultan of Brunei Darussalam .He was the eldest son of Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin...
, due to his young age of 11, the reign was temporarily held by a Council of Regency whose member consist of Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman and Pengiran Anak Mohammad Yassin from September 11, 1924 to September 19, 1931. In 1927, he officially opened the Brunei-Tutong Highway. It was during his rule that the conglomerate of British Malayan Petroleum Company and Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
struck oil in Padang Berawa, now known as Seria
Seria
Seria is a town in the Belait District of Brunei Darussalam. Its full name is Pekan Seria in full . Seria was originally known as Padang Berawa which is Wild Pigeon's Field in Malay. The name "Seria" comes from the river located very near where oil was first discovered in the area in 1929...
.
In 1932, he visited England. In 1941, the Japanese landed in Brunei and he was given a pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
by the Japanese army. In 1945, the federated army landed and liberated Brunei. In 1946, the Brunei National Anthem, Allah Peliharakan Sultan
Allah Peliharakan Sultan
Allah Peliharakan Sultan is the national anthem of Brunei Darussalam. The anthem is sung in Malay, the national language of the country...
was composed. He was knighted and bestowed with KCMG by the king of the United Kingdom on September 20, 1949 in commemoration of his Silver Jubilee
Silver Jubilee
A Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, ruling anniversary or anything that has completed a 25 year mark...
. He died in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
whilst on his way to England. After his untimely death from natural causes at the age of 37, he was succeeded by his brother, Omar Ali Saifuddin III
Omar Ali Saifuddin III
Al-Marhum Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Maulana Paduka Seri Begawan Al-Hajj Sultan Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien III, GCVO, KCMG was the 28th Sultan of Brunei ruled from 4 June 1950 until his abdication from the throne on 4 October 1967. He was also the first Bruneian Minister of...
.
Marriage
At the age of 20, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin married Tengku Raihani ibni Sultan Alauddin Mahmud Shah, daughter of then Sultan of SelangorSultan of Selangor
Sultan of Selangor is the title of the constitutional ruler of Selangor, Malaysia.-Bugis bloodline:The Sultans of Selangor are descended from a Bugis dynasty that claim descent from the rulers of Luwu in the southern part of Celebes...
, Sultan Alauddin Mahmud Shah. From this marriage, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin had only one daughter and heir, YTM Pengiran Anak Puteri Noorehsani, who was born on 15 October 1935.
YTM Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Noorehsani was born at Klang
Klang
Klang , formerly known as Kelang, is the royal city and former capital of the state of Selangor, Malaysia. It is located within the Klang District in Klang Valley. It is located about 32 km to the west of Kuala Lumpur and 6 km east of Port Klang...
, Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
, 15 October 1935. She was educated privately. Raised to the title of Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Puteri Besar, in anticipation of her appointment as Heiress Apparent by her father, on the 1st June 1950. She is married to Tengku Pengiran Bin Tengku Abdul Aziz Shah and had three sons Pg Anak Tengku Fauzi, Pg Anak Tengku Fadhi & Pg Anak Tengku Farouk.
Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin was also married his 'unofficial wife' /concubine or locally known as 'gundik', Kadayang Amas (deceased) prior to his marriage to Tengku Raihani. From this marriage, they had 3 daughters called the 'Belababs':
YTM Pengiran Anak Datin Seri Setia Hajjah Siti Saerah [Belabab Besar], born in Brunei Town, 1928. Educated at George School, Jalan Tutong
St. George's School, Brunei
St George's School is a Catholic school in Brunei. It grew from classes held in rented house by Fr. Piet de Wit, a resident priest. The first building for the school was constructed in 1941, at Kumbang Pasang, on land donated by Mr. George Ah Foott. After World War II the school was named "St....
, Brunei Town. She married Y.A.M. Tengku Muhammad Khalid Shah Al-Haj Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan ‘Ala ud-din Sulaiman Shah Tengku Indira Bijaya di-Raja of Kuala Langat
Kuala Langat
Kuala Langat is a district of Selangor, Malaysia. It is situated in the southwestern part of Selangor. It covers an area of 885 square kilometres, and had a population of 222,261 at the 2010 Cenmsus . It is bordered by the districts of Klang to the north and Sepang to the east. Its southern border...
and Sepang
Sepang
Sepang is a town and district located in the southern part of the state of Selangor in Malaysia. Formerly a small town, Sepang grew to several recent developments...
. From her first marriage, she had two children, Pg Anak Tengku Noorakmar & Pg Anak Tengku Noorashikin. She later divorced Tengku Khalid and married a lecturer, Haji Muhammad ‘Ali bin Tamin, and had three sons and two daughters from the second marriage - Huzaimah, Rohani, Asrul Hayat, Shamsul Hayat & Muliani Hayat.
2) YTM Pengiran Anak Datin Seri Setia Hajjah Siti Zubaidah (deceased) [Belabab Tengah]
3) YTM Pengiran Anak Datin Seri Setia Hajjah Siti Halimah (deceased) [Belabab Damit], born in Brunei Town, 1935. She was educated privately. Married to Pengiran Haji Muhammad Yakub Bin Pg Temenggong Sahibul Bahar Pangiran Haji Muhammad. Died at Bandar Seri Begawan, 4 January 2009 (buried at Royal Mausoleum, Jalan Khutbah Makam di-Raja). They had 4 sons and 5 daughters; Pg Anak Maharpajun, Pg Anak Bahar, Pg Anak Ishak, Pg Anak Hisamuddin, Pg Anak Zainon, Pg Anak Roheda, Pg Anak Nani, Pg Anak Baharulalam and Pg Anak Norulayun
Legacy
HIS Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Akhazul Khairi Waddien ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam II was born at the palace in Pekan Brunei on 4 June 1913. His father His Royal Highness Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam II was coronated the Sultan of Brunei in 1918 even though his father Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam died in 1906. During that time, Brunei was ruled by a Council of Regency until Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam was coronated as the Sultan of Brunei in 1918.His Royal Highness Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam II had encouraged the teaching and learning of Islam in Brunei. He also built a mosque in the capital even though during his reign, Brunei's revenue from oil had not yet materialised.
The mosque was popularly known as Masjid Marbut Pak Tunggal but it was officially known as Masjid Pekan Brunei — the Brunei Town Mosque. The mosque was used by Bruneians staying in the capital before it was destroyed by Allied bombings during the Second World War.
His Royal Highness Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam died young. He died in 1924 at the age of thirty five and his son, Pengiran Muda Ahmad Tajuddin, ascended the throne.
His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin was only eleven years old when he ascended the throne and became the 27th Sultan of Brunei. Similarly like his father when he ascended the throne, being a minor, the reign was again temporarily held by a Council of Regency on his behalf until he came of age. The Council then consisted of Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman and Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Mohammad Yassin. The Council reigned Brunei from 11 September 1924, to 19 September 1931.
His Royal Highness was the first Sultan to receive formal education at the palace. From a very young age, His Royal Highness studied Islamic Knowledge under a specially appointed religious official. He was also taught English by a European teacher from the age of fourteen.
His Royal Highness was very active. In 1927, he officially opened the Brunei-Tutong Highway. It was during his rule that the conglomerate of British Malayan Petroleum Company and Shell struck oil in Padang Berawa, now known as Seria.
In 1929, he opened the first modern hospital in Brunei Darussalam. It was a thirty-bed hospital. Before that hospital was opened, there was no government doctor or hospital in Brunei. In 1932, he also managed to visit England.
The year before that His Royal Highness had assumed the throne. On 19 September 1931, he was only eighteen years old. The official coronation however took place almost nine years later on 17 March 1940. Even though it would take almost nine years when he was officially coronated, he was still the Sultan of Brunei.
As Sultan he had married Tengku Ampuan Raihani binti Sultan Alaudin Sulaiman Shah, the daughter of Sultan Alaudin Sulaiman Shah, the Sultan of Selangor. The nikah ceremony was held at the Jame Rahmah Mosque in Klang, Selangor. The wedding took place on 6 May 1934. Slightly more than a year later in October 1935, Her Royal Highness gave birth to a princess named Pengiran Anak Puteri Noorehsani.
During the World War II, in 1941, the Japanese landed in Brunei. His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin retained his throne during the war and was bestowed with a pension and Japanese honours. However he had very little to do with the Japanese during the occupation and he together with the royal family left Brunei to stay at a temporary palace at Tantuya in Limbang towards the end of the Second World War. In 1945, the allied army landed and liberated Brunei from the Japanese. The British Military Administration (BMA) took over the running of the government. It was in 1946, before the government took over from British Military Administration.
Like his father before him, His Royal Highness too was concerned with the expansion and improvement of formal education as well as that of religious education.
His Royal Highness was also a keen writer. Among others he wrote a book called the "Panduan Keselamatan" which contained useful advice. These were some of His Majesty's contribution during his reign.
It was also during the reign of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin that saw Brunei Darussalam having her own national anthem "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" or "God save the Sultan". In 1947, the national anthem was composed by Awang Besar Sagap and lyrics written by Pengiran Mohammad Yussof Bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim.
That same year, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin bestowed the title "wazir" to his brother, Pengiran Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien.
On 20 September 1949, His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin celebrated his Silver Jubilee or the 25th anniversary of ascending the throne. At the ceremony His Royal Highness was knighted and bestowed with the KBE by the British High Commissioner to Brunei on behalf of King George VI.
The ceremony was attended by the Commissioner General of Southeast Asia and representatives from neighbouring countries.
A few months after the celebration, His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin was on his way to Britain for an official visit. Unfortunately he was taken ill and later died in Singapore of a haemorrhage. It was 4 June 1950 and His Royal Highness died at the young age of thirty six.
After his untimely death from natural causes, he was succeeded by his brother who became His Royal Highness Sultan 'Omar Ali Saifuddin III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei. His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin did not have a male heir.
His Royal Highness reign represented the start of a new era in Brunei. The discovery of oil changed the whole course of Brunei's history and enabled faster development in all sectors of the country. The expansion and improvement of formal education and his encouragement of religious education were some of his additional contributions to Brunei Darussalam.