Sultan Azlan Shah: 1928 - 2014
Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah of Perak, Malaysia's 9th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, has passed away at the age of 86.
The sultan, died at 1.30pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2014 at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur, as announced by Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir.
Sultan Azlan was one of Malaysia's most respected rulers ever, enjoying a distinguished legal career before ascending the throne for his five-year term as Agong in 1989.
Sultan Azlan was born in Batu Gajah, Perak in 1928 to Sultan Yusuf Izzuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Jalil Nasshirruddin al-Makhtarram karamatullah Shah (reigned 1948–1963) and his commoner wife Toh Puan Dewangsa Khadijah binti Ahmad.
After completing his early education at the Government English School in Batu Gajah (which is now known as Sultan Yussuf School Batu Gajah), Sultan Azlan furthered studies at the Malay College, Kuala Kangsar.
He then read law at the University of Nottingham where he was and was admitted to the English Bar by the Honorable Society of Lincoln's Inn on 23rd November 1954.
Upon returning from the United Kingdom, Sultan Azlan entered government service, serving as the Assistant State Secretary of Perak.
He then joined the Judicial and Legal Service of the Federation of Malaya, serving first as a First Class Magistrate and then as President of the Sessions Court.
He also held the following offices; as Federal Counsel and Deputy Public Prosecutor, Legal Adviser of the State of Pahang (and later of Johor), Registrar of the High Court of Malaya and Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia.
In 1965, 37-year-old Sultan Azlan became the youngest judge to be appointed in the Commonwealth when he was elevated to the Bench of the High Court of Malaya.
Eight years later, he was made a Federal Court Judge and in 1979, was appointed the Chief Justice of the High Court of Malaya, an office he held until His appointment as the Lord President (now Chief Justice) of the Federal Court of Malaysia on 12 November 1982.
Less than a year later, His Royal Highness was appointed The Raja Muda of Perak. He ascended the state throne in February 1984 as the 34th Sultan of Perak.
Sultan Azlan's ascension to the throne of Perak was unexpected, as he had elder brothers who outranked him in the line of succession.
However, his uncle, Sultan Idris Almutawakkil Alallahi Shah II, had a long reign and outlived all of Sultan Azlan's brothers, resulting in his elevation.
Sultan Azlan was an avid sportsman, his particular passions being golf and hockey. The Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament is named in his honour, and he was president of the Asian Hockey Federation and executive board member of the International Hockey Federation.
Sultan Azlan leaves behind his wife, Tuanku Bainun Mohd Ali and five children; Raja Nazrin Shah, Raja Azureen, Raja Eleena and Raja Yong Sofia. Another son, Raja Ashman Shah, passed away in March 2012 after an asthma attack.
