Yahya Petra
Encyclopedia
In full, Almarhum Al-Sultan Yahya Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Sir Ibrahim Petra, GCMG, (December 10, 1917- March 29, 1979) was the sixth Yang di-Pertuan Agong
(King) of Malaysia from September 21, 1975 to his death, and twelfth (by some reckoning tenth) Sultan
of modern Kelantan
(1960–1979).
. He was the second son of Sultan Ibrahim
ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV (b. 1897; reigned 1944–1960) but the first by his commoner wife, Embong binti Daud (1899–1971), who was later promoted to the style Che Ampuan Besar by her son.
The young Tengku Yahya Petra was raised by his childless uncle, Tengku Ismail, later Sultan Ismail
ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV. He was sent to the Francis Light School in Penang
before continuing his studies in England. His uncle, Sultan Ismail, appointed him Tengku Temenggong on July 21, 1939. He was later promoted to Tengku Bendahara on February 6, 1945 by his father, then Sultan Ibrahim. He served in various Kelantan civil service posts from 1941 to 1948.
Tengku Indra Petra became a politician and was elected a Member of Parliament (MP) in the first federal legislative election of 1955. Tengku Indra's descendants have since disputed their family's exclusion from the line succession of the Kelantan throne.
Tengku Indra Petra did not preside over the installation of Sultan Yahya Petra's successor, Sultan Ismail Petra, It was Tengku Panglima Raja Tengku Ahmad who presided over both installations of Sultan Yahya Petra and Sultan Ismail Petra. Tengku Panglima Raja is the father of the former Sultanah of Johor, Sultanah Zanariah binti Tengku Ahmad.
between September 21, 1970 until September 20, 1975.
, the most senior rulers Sultan Abu Bakar of Pahang
and Sultan Ismail of Johor
both declined to be considered. Sultan Yahya Petra also declined nomination at first due to having suffered a serious stroke, but changed his mind and was duly elected. His term began from September 21, 1975.
.
(1917–1983), who was styled Raja Perempuan Zainab II (her stepmother-in-law was Raja Perempuan Zainab I, consort of Sultan Ibrahim) and Raja Permaisuri Agong
. Sultan Yahya Petra and Raja Perempuan Zainab II had one son and six daughters.
.http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Malaysia/malay2.htm. He received: Knight Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG - 1952)Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) - 1972
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....
(King) of Malaysia from September 21, 1975 to his death, and twelfth (by some reckoning tenth) 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...
of modern Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
(1960–1979).
Early career
He was born Tengku Yahya Petra at Istana Balai Besar in Kota BharuKota Bharu
Kota Bharu is a city in Malaysia, is the state capital and Royal City of Kelantan. It is also the name of the territory in which Kota Bharu City is situated. The name means 'new city' or 'new castle/fort' in Malay. Kota Bharu is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, and lies...
. He was the second son of Sultan Ibrahim
Sultan Ibrahim
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar Al-Masyhur ibni Abu Bakar or Sultan Ibrahim II, GCMG, GBE, was the 22nd Sultan of Johor, in Malaysia...
ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV (b. 1897; reigned 1944–1960) but the first by his commoner wife, Embong binti Daud (1899–1971), who was later promoted to the style Che Ampuan Besar by her son.
The young Tengku Yahya Petra was raised by his childless uncle, Tengku Ismail, later Sultan Ismail
Sultan Ismail
Sultan Ismail Al-Khalidi ibni Ibrahim Al-Masyhur, KBE, CMG, was the 23rd Sultan of Johor in Malaysia.-Early life:Tunku Ismail was born on 28 October 1894 at Istana Semayam, Johor and was the eldest son of Tunku Ibrahim by his first wife, Sultanah Ungku Maimunah binti Ungku Abdul Majid...
ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV. He was sent to the Francis Light School in 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...
before continuing his studies in England. His uncle, Sultan Ismail, appointed him Tengku Temenggong on July 21, 1939. He was later promoted to Tengku Bendahara on February 6, 1945 by his father, then Sultan Ibrahim. He served in various Kelantan civil service posts from 1941 to 1948.
The Kelantan Succession Dispute
Tengku Indra Petra was the eldest son of Sultan Ibrahim, who had been appointed heir apparent with the title of Raja Muda on October 25, 1944. However due to conflict with his father, he was dismissed from the post and removed from the line of succession by his father's decree on February 1, 1948. On the same day, Tengku Yahya Petra replaced his brother as heir apparent with the new title of Tengku Mahkota.Tengku Indra Petra became a politician and was elected a Member of Parliament (MP) in the first federal legislative election of 1955. Tengku Indra's descendants have since disputed their family's exclusion from the line succession of the Kelantan throne.
Tengku Indra Petra did not preside over the installation of Sultan Yahya Petra's successor, Sultan Ismail Petra, It was Tengku Panglima Raja Tengku Ahmad who presided over both installations of Sultan Yahya Petra and Sultan Ismail Petra. Tengku Panglima Raja is the father of the former Sultanah of Johor, Sultanah Zanariah binti Tengku Ahmad.
Accession
Sultan Yahya Petra (as he became) succeeded his father a day after the latter's death on July 9, 1960. He was crowned on July 17, 1961 at Istana Balai Besar in Kota Bharu.Election as Deputy King
Sultan Yahya Petra served as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan AgongYang 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....
between September 21, 1970 until September 20, 1975.
Election as King
During the election of the sixth Yang di-Pertuan AgongYang 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....
, the most senior rulers Sultan Abu Bakar 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 Sultan Ismail 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...
both declined to be considered. Sultan Yahya Petra also declined nomination at first due to having suffered a serious stroke, but changed his mind and was duly elected. His term began from September 21, 1975.
Events During Kingship
Malaysia's second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak died on January 14, 1976 less than four months into Sultan Yahya Petra's reign as Yang di-Pertuan AgongYang 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....
.
Death and Funeral
Sultan Yahya Petra died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack at Istana Negara on March 29, 1979. His coffin lay in state at Istana Negara for a day and was then taken by plane to Kota Bharu where it was buried at the Langgar Royal Mausoleum.Family life
He was married to Tengku Zainab binti Tengku Sri Utama Raja Tengku Muhammad PetraTengku Zainab
Tengku Zainab binti Tengku Sri Utama Raja Muhammad Petra bin Tengku Petra Semerak Ibni Sultan Ahmad of Kelantan was the former Raja Perempuan of Kelantan...
(1917–1983), who was styled Raja Perempuan Zainab II (her stepmother-in-law was Raja Perempuan Zainab I, consort of Sultan Ibrahim) and 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:...
. Sultan Yahya Petra and Raja Perempuan Zainab II had one son and six daughters.
Honours
Sultan Yahya Petra held the rank of Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air ForceMarshal of the Air Force
Marshal of the Air Force is the English term for the most senior rank in a number of air forces. The ranks described by this term can properly be considered marshal ranks....
.http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Malaysia/malay2.htm. He received: Knight Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG - 1952)Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) - 1972
Trivia
- Sultan Yahya Petra Bridge in Kelantan was named after him.
- Petra JayaPetra JayaPetra Jaya is a suburb of Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. This suburb was named after sixth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Yahya Petra of Kelantan .- History :...
, a suburb in KuchingKuchingKuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
, SarawakSarawakSarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
was named after him.