Ahmad Shah of Malaysia
Encyclopedia
HRH Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah ibni Sultan Abu Bakar Riayatuddin al-Muadzam Shah (born 24 October 1930 at Istana Mangga Tunggal, Pekan) is the fifth Sultan
of Pahang
, and also served as the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong
of Malaysia from 1979 to 1984.
Born Tengku Ahmad Shah, he was the only son of Sultan Sir Abu Bakar Riayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdullah Al-Mutassimu Billah Shah
(reigned 1932–1974) by his official and royal consort, Tengku Ampuan Besar Fatimah binti Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Kadasallah Shah.
A student of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar
, he received diplomas in public administration from Worcester College, Oxford and Exeter University. He succeeded his father as sultan in 1974.
His election as Yang di-Pertuan Agong
in 1979 was marked with controversy as he was said to be at odds with the incoming prime minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. However, the rumours proved to be untrue and he proved to be a keen admirer of the prime minister.
A controversial, headstrong personality, he has often forced his chief ministers to resign over minor differences.
His favourite hobby was playing football, golf, polo, and equestrian.
Sultan Ahmad Shah is a keen sportsman and President of the Malaysian Football Association
(FAM) and President of Asian Football Confederation
(AFC) until 2002.
His official and royal consort, Tengku Ampuan Afzan binti Tengku Panglima Perang Muhammad
, a member of the Terengganu royal family, served as his Raja Permaisuri Agong
but died of cancer on her return to Pahang on 29 June 1988. Sultan Ahmad Shah's junior wife Kalsom binti Abdullah
(nee Anita), was designated as the Sultanah of Pahang in 1991.
, Admiral of the Royal Malaysian Navy
and Field Marshal of the Army.
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 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 also served as the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong
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....
of Malaysia from 1979 to 1984.
Born Tengku Ahmad Shah, he was the only son of Sultan Sir Abu Bakar Riayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdullah Al-Mutassimu Billah Shah
Sultan Abu Bakar of Pahang
In full, Sultan Abu Bakar Riayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdullah Al-Mutassim Billah Shah GCMG, , was the fourth sultan of modern Pahang in Malaysia....
(reigned 1932–1974) by his official and royal consort, Tengku Ampuan Besar Fatimah binti Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Kadasallah Shah.
A student of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar
Malay College Kuala Kangsar
The Malay College Kuala Kangsar is a residential school in Malaysia. It is an all-boys and all-Malay school located in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar, Perak...
, he received diplomas in public administration from Worcester College, Oxford and Exeter University. He succeeded his father as sultan in 1974.
His election as Yang di-Pertuan Agong
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....
in 1979 was marked with controversy as he was said to be at odds with the incoming prime minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. However, the rumours proved to be untrue and he proved to be a keen admirer of the prime minister.
A controversial, headstrong personality, he has often forced his chief ministers to resign over minor differences.
His favourite hobby was playing football, golf, polo, and equestrian.
Sultan Ahmad Shah is a keen sportsman and President of the Malaysian Football Association
Football Association of Malaysia
The Football Association of Malaysia is the governing body for football in Malaysia, responsible for organising the Malaysian national football team and the major football and futsal tournaments within the country. The Football Association of Malaysia main headquarters is located at Wisma...
(FAM) and President of Asian Football Confederation
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
(AFC) until 2002.
His official and royal consort, Tengku Ampuan Afzan binti Tengku Panglima Perang Muhammad
Tengku Afzan
Tengku Hajjah Afzan binti Tengku Panglima Perang Muhammad was the former Tengku Ampuan or Queen of Pahang. She also served as Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia between 1979 and 1984.-Early life:...
, a member of the Terengganu royal family, served as his 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:...
but died of cancer on her return to Pahang on 29 June 1988. Sultan Ahmad Shah's junior wife Kalsom binti Abdullah
Sultanah Kalsom binti Abdullah
Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom binti Abdullah is the current Sultanah of Pahang and second wife of Sultan Ahmad Shah. Born on 12 September 1951, she is originally of Persian and Pakistani descent/origin. She has previously worked as an air stewardess.Sultanah Kalsom married Sultan...
(nee Anita), was designated as the Sultanah of Pahang in 1991.
Honours
As the Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1979 to 1984, Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah was automatically designated under constitutional provisions as the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces, holding the rank of the Field 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....
, Admiral of the Royal Malaysian Navy
Royal Malaysian Navy
The Royal Malaysian Navy is the naval arm of Malaysian Armed Forces. All commissioned ships of the RMN have the prefix KD , which means Royal Ship.-Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve:...
and Field Marshal of the Army.
Educational institutions
- Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Campus (Universiti Tenaga NasionalUniversiti Tenaga NasionalUniversiti Tenaga Nasional is a private research university located in Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia...
(UNITEN) branch campus), Bandar Muadzam ShahBandar Muadzam ShahBandar Muadzam Shah is a town located in the district of Rompin in the State of Pahang, Malaysia. The town was established in 1979 by the South-East Pahang Development Authority under the purview of the second Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, who also happened to be the native of nearby...
Buildings, Bridges and Roads
- Sultan Ahmad Shah State Mosque at KuantanKuantanKuantan is the state capital of Pahang, the 3rd largest state in Malaysia. It is situated near the mouth of the Kuantan River and faces the South China Sea. If one measures the distance along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, it is located roughly halfway between Singapore and Kota Bharu...
- Sultan Ahmad Shah BridgeSultan Ahmad Shah BridgeSultan Ahmad Shah Bridge or Temerloh Bridge is the main bridge on Pahang River near Temerloh, Pahang, Malaysia. It is located in Federal route .-History:...
(Temerloh Bridge) on Federal RouteMalaysia Federal Route 2Federal Route 2 is a main federal roads in Malaysia. The roads connects Port Klang in Selangor to Kuantan Port in Pahang. Federal Route 2 became the backbone of the road system linking the east and west coasts of Peninsula Malaysia before being surpassed by the East Coast Expressway .-Route...
at TemerlohTemerlohTemerloh is a town in Central Pahang, Malaysia in Temerloh district. Located about from Kuala Lumpur along the Kuantan-Kuala Lumpur trunk road, Temerloh is the second largest town in Pahang after Kuantan. It is situated at the junction of the Pahang River and the Semantan River... - Sultan Ahmad Shah II BridgeSultan Ahmad Shah II BridgeSultan Ahmad Shah II Bridge or Semantan Bridge is the longest highway bridge in the East Coast Expressway network. It bridges the Pahang River in Pahang, Malaysia. This bridge was opened when the East Coast Expressway was built. It crosses the Pahang River, the longest river in west Malaysia. At...
(Semantan Bridge) on East Coast ExpresswayEast Coast ExpresswayThe East Coast Expressway, ECE or is an expressway in Malaysia. It is an extension of Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, which starts from Kuala Lumpur to Karak. It provides a link from the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia to the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It features a closed toll system...
at Semantan - Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah (formerly Northam Road) in George TownGeorge Town, PenangGeorge Town was voted as one of the best cities in Asia by Asiaweek, ranked 6th in 1998 and 9th in 2000. More recently, George Town has improved a notch to rank as the 9th most liveable city in Asia in a survey of 254 cities worldwide according to an international location ratings survey by , an...
, PenangPenangPenang 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...
Others
- Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Cup (Charity Shield Malaysia)
External links
- PAHANG, HRH , Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Mustain Billah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’Ayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah International Who's Who. accessed 1 September 2006.