Azlan Shah of Perak
Encyclopedia
Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....

 Sultan
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...

 Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusuff Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullah, GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...

, KStJ
KSTJ
KSTJ may refer to:* KFRH, a radio station licensed to Boulder City, Nevada, United States, which used the call sign KSTJ from September 1998 to October 2007...

 (born 19 April 1928) is the current Sultan of Perak
Sultan of Perak
Sultan of Perak is one of the oldest hereditary seats among the Malay states.When the Sultanate of Malacca empire fell to Portugal in 1511, Sultan Mahmud Syah I retreated to Kampar, Sumatra and died there in 1528. He left behind two princes named Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II and Sultan Muzaffar...

. He was the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....

 of Malaysia from 26 April 1989 to 25 April 1994. A lawyer by profession, he served as a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...

, and the Lord President of the Federal Court
Lord President of the Federal Court
The title of Lord President of the Supreme Court was formerly the title of the head of the judiciary in Malaysia, until 1994 when the office was renamed "Chief Justice of the Federal Court"....

 before becoming the Sultan of Perak.

Background

Raja Azlan Shah (as he was then known) was born on 19 April 1928 in Batu Gajah
Batu Gajah
Batu Gajah is a town located in the state of Perak in Malaysia, about 24 km from Ipoh, the Perak state capital.-Origins and History:...

, Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...

. A child of Sultan Yusuf Izzuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Jalil Nasshirruddin al-Makhtarram karamatullah Shah
Sultan Yusuf Izzuddin Shah
Sultan Sir Yusuf Izzuddin Rathiullah Ghafarullahulahu Shah, KCMG was a Sultan of Perak, a state in the current Federation of Malaysia....

 (reigned 1948–1963) by his commoner wife (later divorced) Toh Puan Dewangsa Khadijah binti Ahmad, the young Raja Azlan Shah was brought up by his mother outside royal circles.

Raja Azlan's early education was at Government English School, Batu Gajah now known as SMK Sultan Yussuf
SMK Sultan Yussuf
SMK Sultan Yussuf is a high school located in Batu Gajah, Perak, Malaysia. The senior principal is Zainal Abidin Ahmad Sanee.- History :The school was established as a small private school in 1907, and was founded by Malai Perumal Pillay, a local merchant. It was difficult to persuade the parents...

. He continued his higher education at the prestigious Malay College Kuala Kangsar
Malay College Kuala Kangsar
The Malay College Kuala Kangsar is a residential school in Malaysia. It is an all-boys and all-Malay school located in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar, Perak...

. He went to study law at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...

 where he obtained the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1953, and was admitted to the English Bar by the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn on 23 November 1954.

Legal career

As he had elder brothers who outranked him in the order of succession, he was trained for the legal service.

On his return from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, he first served as the Assistant State Secretary of Perak. Thereafter, he joined the Judicial and Legal Service of the Federation of Malaya where he served as a First Class Magistrate and as a Sessions Court president. Subsequently Raja Azlan was appointed to the following offices: Federal Counsel and Deputy Public Prosecutor, Legal Adviser of the State of Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...

 and later of Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...

, Registrar of the High Court in Malaya and Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia.

In 1965, at the age of only thirty-seven years, Raja Azlan was elevated to the Bench of the High Court of Malaya being the youngest judge to be appointed in the Commonwealth. In 1973, he was made a Federal Court judge and six years later in 1979, Chief Justice of Malaya, an office which he held until his appointment as the youngest-ever Lord President of the Federal Court of Malaysia on 12 November 1982.

Becoming Sultan

By a strange twist of fate, Raja Azlan Shah was installed Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Perak by his uncle, Sultan Idris Almutawakkil Alallahi Shah II
Idris Shah II of Perak
Sultan Idris Iskandar Shah II, CMG was the Sultan of the Malaysian state of Perak from 1963 until his death in 1984...

 on 1 July 1983. The long reign of that Sultan had taken its toll on Raja Azlan Shah's elder brothers. In that year, his only surviving elder brother, Raja Baharom Shah, refused the office of Crown Prince and Raja Azlan Shah was suddenly heir to the throne.

Within six months, Sultan Idris died and Azlan Shah succeeded to the throne of Perak on 3 February 1984. In April 1989, Sultan Azlan Shah became the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....

 of Malaysia. He served the full five year term and returned as Sultan of Perak in 1994.

Royal Family

Sultan Azlan Shah married a commoner from Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...

, former teacher Bainun binti Mohamad Ali. She is styled as Her Royal Highness The Raja Permaisuri (Queen) of Perak, Tuanku Bainun Binti Mohd. Ali, D.K., D.M.N..

When Sultan Azlan Shah became Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....

, she became the first ever commoner Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong, or in full, Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong, is the title given to the Queen of Malaysia, consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.The holders of this office have been:...

 in the history of Malaysia. The couple were the first monarchs of Malaysia to be installed on new gilded silver thrones, replacing the wooden ancient thrones used between 1957 to 1994.

The royal couple have five children, two princes and three princesses. The eldest is Raja Nazrin Shah
Raja Nazrin Shah
Raja Dr Nazrin Shah ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah is the Raja Muda of Perak. He is the eldest son of the current Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Muhibbudin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusuff Izzudin Shah Ghafarullahu-lahu and the Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Bainun Binti Mohd...

, who is also Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...

. The others are Raja Dato’ Seri Azureen
Raja Dato’ Seri Azureen
Raja Dato' Seri Azureen binti Sultan Azlan Shah is the eldest daughter of Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak. She was born in Penang on December 9, 1957. Raja Dato' Seri Azureen had her primary education at Marion Convent in Ipoh and her secondary education at the Bukit Nanas Convent School in Kuala Lumpur...

, Raja Dato’ Seri Ashman Shah
Raja Dato’ Seri Ashman Shah
Raja Dato' Seri Ashman Shah ibni Sultan Azlan Shah is a member of Perak Royal Family. He was born on December 28, 1958. Raja Dato' Seri Ashman is the son of Sultan Azlan Shah...

, Raja Eleena
Raja Eleena
Yang Amat Mulia Raja Eleena binti Sultan Azlan Shah is a daughter of the current Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah. She was born on April 3, 1960 and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Law from the University of London...

 and Raja Yong Sofia
Raja Yong Sofia
Yang Amat Mulia Raja Yong Sofia binti Sultan Azlan Shah is the youngest princess of Perak in Malaysia. She holds a Master's Degree in Administration from International University in London. She worked for Bank Bumiputra.-References:...

.

2009 Perak Constitutional Crisis

In early 2009, he attracted heavy criticism for his involvement in the toppling of the Pakatan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat or PR is an informal Malaysian political coalition. It currently controls four state governments while in opposition to the ruling Barisan Nasional at the federal level....

 state government, which led to the Perak Constitutional Crisis
2009 Perak constitutional crisis
The 2009 Perak constitutional crisis was a political dispute in Malaysia regarding the legitimacy of the Perak state government formed in February 2009. It began when three Pakatan Rakyat state legislators defected, causing a collapse of the state government...

. His decision was subsequently reversed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court
Dato' Seri Ir Hj. Mohammad Nizar Bin Jamaluddin v. Dato' Dr. Zambry Bin Abd. Kadir
Dato' Seri Ir Hj. Mohammad Nizar Bin Jamaluddin v. Dato' Dr. Zambry Bin Abd. Kadir was a case decided in the High Court of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...

, which ruled that the Sultan was not constitutionally permitted to dismiss the Menteri Besar. However, upon appeal by Dato' Dr.Zambry bin Abd Kadir, Court of Appeal has reversed the decision made by the High Court on ground of the learned judge had wrongly interpreted relevant articles in Perak State Constitution which gives absolute discretionary power for the Sultan to withholding consent dissolution of State Legislative Assembly. It is also in view of the Court of Appeal, that the Sultan was correct to refuse dissolution of the assembly and directed Nizar to resign as he had lost the majority of confidence in assembly. The decision by Court of Appeal subsequently upheld unanimously by the five-man Bench of Federal Court on 10 February 2010 which declared Dato' Seri Dr Zambry as the rightful Perak Menteri Besar.

Education

Among the positions Azlan Shah has held are Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Universiti Sains Malaysia is a public university with its main campus in Penang, Malaysia. There are three branch campuses: one in mainland Penang , one in Kelantan on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and a offshore collaboration with a university in India...

 ( 4 October 1971 - February 1984), Chairman of the Higher Education Advisory Council ( 1 November 1974 – 31 October 1976), and Chancellor of the University of Malaya
University of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...

 ( 8 February 1986 to date).

He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Literature by the University of Malaya
University of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...

 on 30 June 1979 and an Honorary Doctorate of Law by Universiti Sains Malaysia
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Universiti Sains Malaysia is a public university with its main campus in Penang, Malaysia. There are three branch campuses: one in mainland Penang , one in Kelantan on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and a offshore collaboration with a university in India...

 on 28 June 1980.

Sultan Azlan has also been recognised by several foreign universities:
  • University of Nottingham
    University of Nottingham
    The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...

    , Honorary Doctor of Law, 11 July 1986
  • Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, Honorary Bencher, 1988
  • Universitas Gajah Mada, Jogjakarta, Indonesia
    Indonesia
    Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

    , Honorary Doctor of Law, 28 September 1990
  • Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Honorary Doctor of Law, 30 October 1990
  • Chulalongkorn University
    Chulalongkorn University
    Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand and is the country's highest ranked university. It now has nineteen faculties and institutes. Regarded as the best and most selective university in Thailand, it consistently attracts top students from around the country...

    , Bangkok
    Bangkok
    Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

    , Thailand
    Thailand
    Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

    , Honorary Doctor of Law, 19 December 1990.
  • Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
    Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
    The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland , was founded in 1654 and is a postgraduate medical organisation comprising Members and Fellows...

    , Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
    Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
    The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , is a Dublin-based medical institution, situated on St. Stephen's Green. The college is one of the five Recognised Colleges of the National University of Ireland...

    , Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
    Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
    The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is an organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in surgical practice, through its interest in education, training and examinations, its liaison with external medical bodies and representation of the modern surgical workforce...

    , Honorary Fellow, 2 October 1991
  • Royal College of Surgeons of England
    Royal College of Surgeons of England
    The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...

    , Honorary Fellow, 1999.

Sports

Sultan Azlan was President of the Malaysian Hockey Federation until 2005, but remains the President of the Asian Hockey Federation
Asian Hockey Federation
The Asian Hockey Federation is the governing body for the sport of field hockey in Asia. It now has 30 member associations.-Member associations:...

 and an Executive Board member of FIH (International Hockey Federation
International Hockey Federation
The International Field Hockey Federation is the global governing body of field hockey...

),. He is also an avid golfer, and is the patron of The Royal Perak Golf Club, The Iskandar Polo Club, Ipoh, The Kuala Kangsar Golf Club and The Perak Veteran Hockey Association.

The Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament
Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament
The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is an annual international men's field hockey tournament held in Malaysia. It began in 1983 as a biennial contest. The tournament became an annual event after 1998, following its growth and popularity. The tournament is named after the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of...

 is an annual hockey tournament which is played in Kuala Lumpur named after Sultan Azlan Shah.

Patron

Sultan Azlan is the Royal Patron of the following student, graduate, professional and charitable clubs and associations, namely:
  • The Malaysian Law Society in Great Britain and Éire
  • The British Graduates Association of Malaysia
  • The Academy of Medicine of Malaysia
  • The Rotary Clubs
  • The Lions Clubs
  • The Royal Ipoh Club
  • WWF-Malaysia

Literature

(Special issue of the Supreme Court Journal to commemorate the installation of His Majesty Sultan Azlan Shah as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong IX Malaysia)

Honours

Sultan Azlan held the rank of Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. His foreign honours are:
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) - 1989Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ)-1990Star of the Republic of Indonesia
Orders, decorations, and medals of Indonesia
Awards and decorations of the Republic of Indonesia are both military and civilian awards for service and personal contributions to the Republic of Indonesia. According to the Indonesian Constitution, Chapter III Article 15: "The President grants designations, awards, and other distinctions that...

, 1st Class - 1990Collar of the Order of the Rajamitrabhorn
Order of the Rajamitrabhorn
The Most Auspicious Order of the Rajamitrabhorn is the highest royal order of Thailand. It was established on 11 June 1962 by King Rama IX to be bestowed upon foreign Heads of State. Members of the order are entitled to use the postnominals ร.ม.ภ.-Insignia:The decoration consists of a single class...

 - 1990Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum
Order of the Chrysanthemum
is Japan's highest order. The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Emperor Meiji of Japan; the collar of the Order was added on January 4, 1888. Although technically the order has only one class, it can either be awarded with collar , or with grand cordon...

 - 1991Collar of the Order of Honor
Order of Honor
Order of Honor may refer to:*Order of Honour *Order of Honour *Order of the Badge of Honor...

 of the Sudan - 1991Collar of the Civil Order of Oman, 1st Class - 1991Grand Cross of the Order of the Merit of Chile
Order of the Merit of Chile
The Order of the Merit of Chile is a Chilean military decoration and was created in 1929. Succeeding the Medal of the Merit, it was created during the term of the President Germán Riesco through the Minister of War decree No. 1350 on September 4, 1906...

 (w/Collar) - 1992Special Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany - 1992 Supreme Order of Hibiscus
Supreme Order of Hibiscus
The Grand Order of Mugunghwa is the highest decoration awarded by the government of the Republic of Korea. It can be awarded to the individuals who are serving or have previously served as the Head of State of South Korea and its allies, as well as to his/her spouse.After their conviction for...

 of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...

Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
The Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...

- 1992
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