Azlan Shah
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Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusuff Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah (born April 19, 1928) is the current Sultan of Perak. He was the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (roughly equivalent to King) of Malaysia from April 26, 1989 to April 25, 1994. A lawyer by profession, he was a judge, and previously served as the Lord President of the Federal Court.
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[edit] Background
Sultan Azlan Shah was born on April 19, 1928 in Batu Gajah, Perak. A child of Sultan Yusuff Izzuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Jalil Nasruddin Makhtaram Shah (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.
Sultan Azlan's early education was at Government English School, Batu Gajah now known as Sultan Yussuf School Batu Gajah. He continued his higher education at the prestigious Malay College Kuala Kangsar. He went to read law at the University of Nottingham where he was conferred the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1953 and was admitted to the English Bar by the Honorable Society of Lincoln's Inn on 23rd November 1954.
[edit] 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, 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 First Class Magistrate and as President of the Sessions Court respectively. Subsequently His Royal Highness was appointed to the following offices; as Federal Counsel and Deputy Public Prosecutor, Legal Adviser of the State of Pahang and later of Johor, as Registrar of the High Court of Malaya was and as Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia.
In 1965, at the age of only thirty-seven years, His Royal Highness was elevated to the Bench of the High Court of Malaya being the youngest judge to be appointed in the Commonwealth. In 1973, His Royal Highness was made a Federal Court Judge and six years later in 1979, His Royal Highness was appointed the Chief Justice of the High Court of Malaya, an office which he held until his appointment as the youngest ever Lord President (now Chief Justice) of the Federal Court of Malaysia on 12 November 1982.
[edit] Becoming Sultan
However, 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 on July 1, 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 presumptive.
Within six months, Sultan Idris was dead and Sultan Azlan Shah succeeded to the ancient Perak throne on 3rd February 1984. Though his legal career was over, he became a much respected Sultan due to his wealth of knowledge and the great love for the welfare of his state.
In 1989, Sultan Azlan Shah became the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. He served the full five year term and returned as Sultan of Perak in 1994.
[edit] Royal Family
Sultan Azlan Shah married a commoner from Penang, 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, she became the first ever commoner Raja Permaisuri Agong 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, who is also Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Perak. The others are Raja Dato’ Seri Azureen binti Sultan Azlan Shah, Raja Dato’ Seri Ashman Shah ibni Sultan Azlan Shah, Raja Eleena binti Sultan Azlan Shah and Raja Yong Sofia Binti Sultan Azlan Shah
[edit] Social Contributions
[edit] Education
Many higher institutions of learning have also benefited from Sultan Azlan's contributions. Among the many positions His Royal Highness held were Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (October 4th 1971 - February 1984), Chairman of the Higher Education Advisory Council (November 1st 1974 - October 31st 1976), and is currently Chancellor of Universiti Malaya since February 8th, 1986.
His Royal Highness was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Literature by University of Malaya on June 30th 1979 and an Honorary Doctorate of Law by University Science of Malaysia on June 28th 1980.
His Royal Highness outstanding achievements are also recognized by foreign universities
- University of Nottingham conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Law on July 11, 1986
- Lincoln's Inn, London awarded His Royal Highness "Honorary Bencher" in 1988
- Awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law by University Gadja Mada, Jogjakarta Indonesia on September 28, 1990
- Awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law by Universiti Brunei Darussalam on October 30th 1990
- Awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law University Chulalongkorn, Bangkok, Thailand on December 19, 1990.
- On October 2, 1991 His Royal Highness was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of Royal College of Physician of Ireland, the Fellowship of Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, the Honorary Fellowship of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Awarded the Honorary Fellowship of The Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1999.
[edit] Sports
His Royal Highness enthusiasm for sports especially hockey began at school. His Royal Highness stepped down as the President of Malaysian Hockey Federation in 2005 but remains as the President of the Asian Hockey and Vice-President of FIH (International Hockey Federation). Other than hockey His Royal Highness is an avid golfer.
Sultan Azlan is also the patron for The Royal Perak Golf Club, The Iskandar Polo Club, Ipoh, The Kuala Kangsar Golf Club and The Perak Veteran Hockey Association.
Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament is an annual hockey tournament which is played in Kuala Lampur named after Sultan Azlan Shah.
[edit] Patron
His Royal Highness 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
- The Malaysian Nature Society
[edit] References
| Preceded by Sultan Iskandar (Sultan of Johor) |
Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) 1989 - 1994 |
Succeeded by Tuanku Jaafar (Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan) |
| Preceded by Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakkil Alallahi Shah II |
Sultan of Perak 1984- current |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
