Azlan Shah of Perak

He was born on 19 April 1928 at Kampung Manggis, Batu Gajah, Perak.[1] the only son of Sultan Yussuff Izzuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Jalil Karamatullah Nasiruddin Mukhtaram Shah Radziallah Hu'an-hu (reigned 1948–died 1963) by his second wife, Toh Puan Besar Khadijah binti Toh Indera Wangsa Ahmad (1906–1992), he was brought up by his mother outside royal circles.

Raja Azlan Shah began his education at the Government English School, Batu Gajah Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Yussuf. For his secondary education, he attended Malay College, Kuala Kangsar. Afterwards, he went to the University of Nottingham to study law, earning a Bachelor of Law degree in 1953.[2] While in school, Azlan Shah began his lifelong love for field hockey, playing for his school teams. He subsequently played for the Perak team.[3]

Raja Azlan Shah was admitted to the English Bar on 23 November 1954. He returned to Malaysia, becoming the Assistant State Secretary of Perak. He joined the Judicial and Legal Service of the Federation of Malaya and soon became the President of the Sessions Court. He continued to rise quickly through the legal ranks, serving as Federal Counsel and Deputy Public Prosecutor, Legal Adviser of the State of Pahang, Registrar of the High Court of Malaya, and Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia.[2]

In 1965, Raja Azlan Shah, aged 37, became the youngest judge ever appointed to the High Court of Malaya. He was appointed to the Federal Court in 1973. In 1979, he was appointed Chief Justice of the High Court of Malaya.[2] Finally, on 12 November 1982 he became the youngest ever Lord President of the Federal Court, the highest judicial post in Malaysia.[1][2]

Raja Azlan Shah was installed Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Perak by his uncle, Sultan Idris Almutawakkil Alallahi Shah II on 1 July 1983.[2] During the long reign of Idris Shah most of Raja Azlan Shah's elder brothers had died. 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. He was officially installed as the 34th Sultan of Perak on 9 December 1985. In April 1989, Sultan Azlan Shah became the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (elected king) of Malaysia. After the five-year term, he returned to his post as Sultan of Perak in 1994.[2]

In 2009, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) political group held a narrow majority in the Perak state assembly with 32 of the 59 seats. Three members of the party decided to leave, and allied themselves with the rival BN coalition. PR leader Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin requested to dissolve the parliament. Sultan Azlan refused the request, citing royal discretion, and instead demanded Mohammad Nizar and the rest of the leadership resign their posts to make way for BN leaders.[4]

The decision was challenged and the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that the Sultan was not constitutionally permitted to dismiss the menteri besar. However, upon appeal, the decision was reversed by the Court of Appeal which rules that the Perak State Constitution gives absolute discretionary power for the Sultan to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly. The Court also directed Nizar to resign. The decision was subsequently upheld unanimously by the five-man Bench of Federal Court in February 2010.[4]

Sultan Azlan was the Pro-Chancellor of the Universiti Sains Malaysia from October 1971 to February 1981 and the Chancellor of the University of Malaya from February 1983 until his death. He also served the Chairman of the Higher Education Advisory Council from 1974 to 1976. The University of Malaya awarded him an honorary doctorate in June 1979 and the University Science of Malaysia awarded him one the following June.[2]

Sultan Azlan was recognised by several foreign universities, including:[2]

• University of Nottingham, Honorary Doctor of Law, July 1986
• Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, "Honorary Bencher", 1988
• Universitas Gajah Mada, Jogjakarta, Indonesia, Honorary Doctor of Law, 28 September 1990
• Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Honorary Doctor of Law, 30 October 1990
• Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, Honorary Doctor of Law, 19 December 1990.
• Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Honorary Fellow, 2 October 1991
• Royal College of Surgeons of England, Honorary Fellow, 1999.

Sultan Azlan was an avid supporter of field hockey throughout his life. Due to his significant contributions to the sport, he was known as the "Father of Malaysian Hockey."[3] Azlan was President of the Malaysian Hockey Federation until 2005, and was the elected President of the Asian Hockey Federation from 1997 until his death.[5] He was an Executive Board member of FIH (International Hockey Federation), serving as vice-president for two terms starting in 1992.[6] Under Azlan Shah's leadership, Malaysia twice hosted the World Cup, in 1975 and 2002. In 1983, the sultan founded the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, an annual hockey tournament played in Ipoh.[3]

Sultan Azlan enjoyed golfing in his spare time.[2]

Sultan Azlan was a patron of the following institutions:[2]

• The Academy of Medicine of Malaysia
• The British Graduates Association of Malaysia
• The Iskandar Polo Club
• The Kuala Kangsar Golf Club
• The Lions Clubs
• The Malaysian Law Society in Great Britain and Éire
• The Malaysian Nature Society
• The Perak Veteran Hockey Association.
• The Rotary Clubs
• The Royal Ipoh Club and The Royal Perak Golf Club
• St. John Ambulance of Malaysia, State of Perak Darul Ridzuan

Sultan Azlan Shah married Bainun Binti Mohd Ali. She is styled as Her Royal Highness The Raja Permaisuri (Queen) of Perak, Tuanku Bainun Binti Mohd. Ali, D.K., D.M.N.. The couple had five children, two princes and three princesses. The eldest is Raja Nazrin Shah, who is now current Sultan of Perak. The others are Raja Azureen, Raja Eleena and Raja Yong Sofia. Raja Dato' Seri Ashman Shah died on 30 March 2012 of asthma attack.[4]

Sultan Azlan Shah died on 28 May 2014 at 1:30 pm at the National Heart Institute, Kuala Lumpur at aged 86. He was posthumously titled as Marhum Al-Maghfur-Lah. He was laid to rest next to grave of his late uncle, Sultan Idris Shah at the Al-Ghufran Royal Mausoleum at Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar, Perak after Asar prayers on 29 May, and the proclamation of a new Sultan was announced on the 29 May.[12] Upon his death, a public holiday was announced in the state of Perak for 29 May so that the population could pay their last respects to him at Kuala Kangsar. Menteri Besar of Perak Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir announced that the Malaysian flag would fly at half-mast for 7 days, and the Perak flag for 100 days. In addition, "all entertainment and celebrations" were cancelled to show respect for the Sultan.[4] He is survived by his wife Tuanku Bainun, and his four children Raja Nazrin Shah, Raja Dato' Seri Azureen, Raja Dato' Seri Eleena. Raja Dato' Seri Yong Sofia, their other son Raja Dato' Seri Ashman Shah died in 2012 of asthma attack.[4]

• Sinnadurai, Visu (1988). His Majesty Sultan Azlan Shah: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong IX Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: The Supreme Court Journal. ISSN 0128-066X. (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)

• 19 April 1928 – 1938: His Highness (Yang Mulia) Raja Azlan ibni Raja Bendahara Yussuf Shah
• 1938 – 27 March 1948: His Highness (Yang Mulia) Raja Azlan ibni Raja Muda Yussuf Shah
• 27 March 1948 – 1959: His Highness (Yang Amat Mulia) Raja Azlan ibni Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah
• 1959–1960: His Highness (Yang Amat Mulia) Raja Azlan Shah ibni Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah, Deputy Public Prosecutor
• 1960 – 25 September 1962: His Highness (Yang Amat Mulia) Raja Azlan Shah ibni Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah, Legal Adviser for Johor and Pahang
• 25 September 1962 – 4 January 1963: His Highness (Yang Teramat Mulia) Raja Azlan Shah ibni Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah, Legal Adviser, Registrar of the Kuala Lumpur High Court and The Raja Kechil Bongsu
• 4 January 1963 – 17 June 1965: His Highness (Yang Teramat Mulia) Raja Azlan Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullah-lah, Chief Registrar of the Federal Court and The Raja Kechil Tengah
• 17 June 1965 – 1973: His Highness (Yang Teramat Mulia) or His Honour (Yang Arif) Raja Tan Sri Azlan Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullah-lah, High Court Judge and The Raja Kechil Tengah
• 1973–24 May 1977: His Highness (Yang Teramat Mulia) or His Honour (Yang Arif) Raja Tan Sri Azlan Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullah-lah, Federal Court Judge and The Raja Kechil Tengah
• 24 May 1977 – 6 March 1979 1978: His Highness (Yang Teramat Mulia) or His Honour (Yang Arif) Raja Tan Sri Azlan Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullah-lah, Federal Court Judge and The Raja Kechil Sulong
• 6 March 1979 – 12 November 1982: His Highness (Yang Teramat Mulia) or His Honour (Yang Amat Arif) Raja Tan Sri Azlan Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullah-lah, Chief Justice of Malaya and The Raja Kechil Besar
• 12 November 1982 – 11 August 1983: His Highness (Yang Teramat Mulia) or His Most Honour (Yang Amat Arif) Raja Tun Azlan Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullah-lah, The Lord President of The Federal Court and The Raja Kechil Besar
• 11 August 1983 – 3 February 1984: His Royal Highness (Duli Yang Teramat Mulia) or His Most Honour (Yang Amat Arif): Raja Tun Azlan Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullah-lah, The Lord President of The Federal Court and The Raja Muda of Perak
• 3 February 1984 – 24 April 1989: His Royal Highness (Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri) Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullah-lah, The Sultan of Perak
• 25 April 1989 – 26 April 1994: His Majesty (Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda) Tuanku Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullah-lah, The Yang di-Pertuan Agong IX
• 27 April 1994 – 28 May 2014: His Royal Highness (Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri) Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullah-lah, The Sultan of Perak

His son, Sultan Nazrin, applied the appellation of Maghfur-lah to his posthumous name. Hence he is referred to as Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfur-Lah

Sultan Azlan held the rank of Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.[13] His honours are:[14]

At the 1982 Perak Domestic Tourism Exposition, the orchid that won the best plant award was named after Azlan Shah, "Doritinopsis Sultan Azlan Shah". The insect genus Azlania was named in honour of him by The Malaysia Nature Society.[2]

Several building projects and institutions were named after the Sultan, including: