Abdullah Mukarram Shah of Kedah

Paduka Sri Sultan Abdullah Mukarram Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin Mu'adzam Shah II (died 1 September 1797) was the 20th Sultan of Kedah. His reign was from 1778 to 1797.

The threat of Siam

The war between Burma and Siam lasted from the year 1753 to the year 1781. While the war was still ongoing, Kedah had stopped the delivery of "Bunga Mas" to Siam. After the war ended, Siam once again became a very powerful force and demanded Kedah to send more "Bunga Mas" to Siam. The Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdullah, felt threatened by the demands of Siam. He wanted to preserve the sovereignty of Kedah and welfare of the people. Sultan Abdullah had no choice but to seek military assistance from SHTI. Sultan Abdullah offered Pinang if SHTI is willing to protect kedah from the Siamese threat. Francis Light knows the importance of the Penang Port and Military Bases. The offer was irresistible, although SHTI wanted to protect the interests of trade with Siam.

The agreement, occupation and betrayal

Francis Light personally have come to an agreement with Sultan Abdullah in the year 1786. Sultan Abdullah let Francis Light to stay in Penang provided that he must provide military assistance for Kedah when needed.

The agreement consists of :

• SHTI has to provide military assistance for Kedah as long as Kedah is attacked by enemies.
• SHTI must not lead the enemies of Kedah.
• SHTI needs to pay as much as 30 000 Spanish Dollars each year to Sultan Abdullah as reparation.

On 11 August 1786, the Union Jack was raised. Francis Light named Penang as "Prince of Wales Island" and their settlement as "Georgetown".after the British King, King George III. This marks the start of the British Occupation in Malaya. The year 1786, Siam conquered Patani and threatens Kedah. Sultan Abdullah demanded military assistance from SHTI as the agreement indicated. SHTI refused to give assistance because Sultan Abdullah only agreed with Francis Light, but not SHTI. Sultan Abdullah forced Francis Light out of Penang. Francis Light was reluctant to let go of Penang and offers payment of damages but was rejected by Sultan Abdullah. In the year 1791, Sultan Abdullah with the help of Riau, Siak and Selangor, was able to prepare a naval to attack and retake Penang. Francis Light asked assistance from the British Military to attack the stronghold of Sultan Abdullah in Seberang Perai. Sultan Abdullah lost and had come to a peace treaty on the 1st of May, 1791. With this peace treaty, SHTI officially occupied Penang. As a reward, SHTI will pay as much as 6000 Spanish Dollars every year to Sultan Abdullah.

Family

• He married his first wife, H.H. Tengku Puneh binti al-Marhum Sultan Sallehuddin Shah, Tengku Besar, before divorcing two years later.

• One son with Wan Mek
  • Tunku Yahya
• Three sons and six daughters with Wan Kamaliah, Tuan Mas, daughter of the Dato’ Sri Paduka Raja Laksamana of Kedah
  • Tunku Ahmad Tajuddin
  • Tunku Bisnu
  • Tunku Ahmad
  • Tunku Hitam
  • Tunku Chik
  • Tunku Zamzam
• Three sons and one daughter with Che Puan Paduka Bonda, a princess from Patani (daughter of Sultan Muhammad ‘Abdu’l Jalil Karimu’llah Mualim Shah, Raja of Patani?)
  • Tunku Ibrahim
  • Tunku Sulaiman
  • Tunku Kusu
• One son with Che Fatima Dewi, Che Mas
  • Tunku Daud
• Two sons and two daughters with Che’ Chandra Sari
  • Tunku Ya’akub
  • Tunku Muhammad Yusuf
• Two daughters with Che’ Bida Sari

References

External links

• Kedah Genealogy
• List of Sultans of Kedah