Nazrin Shah of Perak


Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfur-Lah is the 35th Sultan of Perak. He became the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, elected on 14 October 2016, before Sultan Muhammad V abdicated on 6 January 2019. He is currently the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
He is also a half-third cousin of Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, since both share a common ancestor.

Early life

Sultan Nazrin Shah was born on 27 November 1956 at George Town, Penang, Malaya. during the reign of his grandfather, Sultan Yussuff Izzuddin Shah. He is the eldest son of the late Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuff Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-lah and the former Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Bainun Binti Mohd Ali.

Academic and Intellectual Background

He studied at Sekolah Rendah Jalan Kuantan, Kuala Lumpur from 1962 to 1967 then followed by lower secondary stage at St. John Institution, Kuala Lumpur from 1968 to 1970, and furthered his upper secondary and sixth form at The Leys School, Cambridge until 1975.

Childhood

Sultan Nazrin Shah was born at Penang, Malaya, 27 November 1956 as the first child of late Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuff Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-lah, later Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak, and his wife Tuanku Bainun Binti Mohd Ali
His siblings are :
Sultan Nazrin was educated at St. John's Institution and holds a BA degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Worcester College, Oxford. He also holds an MPA degree from John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a PhD degree in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University.
Sultan Nazrin’s research interests are in the area of economic and political development in South-East and North-East Asia, historical national income accounting and economic growth in developing countries.
The sultan has also written articles and spoken on a wide range of issues including the role of the constitutional monarchy in Malaysia, education, Islam, ethnic relations and economic development.
He has assumed the role of Financial Ambassador of the Malaysian International Islamic Financial Centre, has been Chancellor of Universiti Malaya since 2014 and is the chairman of the Board of Governors of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar.
He is also an Eminent Fellow of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia.

Raja Muda of Perak

He was proclaimed the Raja Muda of Perak on 15 April 1987, taking over from his father, Sultan Azlan Shah, who had become the Sultan of Perak two weeks earlier.
Raja Dr. Nazrin's full name and official title is
In Malay: Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah Ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, Raja Muda Perak Darul Ridzuan, D.K, D.K II, D.K.A,D.K.S.A, S.P.M.P, S.P.C.M, S.P.T.S, Ph.D.
in English: His Royal Highness Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah Ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, The Raja Muda of Perak Abode of Grace and its dependencies, D.K, D.K II, D.K.A, D.K.S.A, S.P.M.P, S.P.C.M, S.P.T.S, Ph.D

Sultan of Perak

On 29 May 2014 he became the 35th Sultan of Perak on the death of his father, Sultan Azlan.
Sultan Nazrin's full name and official title is
in Malay: Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfurlah, Sultan, Yang di-Pertuan dan Raja Pemerintah Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan dan Jajahan Takluknya, D.K., D.K.S.A., D.K.A.,D.M.N., D.K., D.K., S.P.C.M, S.P.T.S, S.P.M.P., Ph.D, MPA .
in English: His Royal Highness Paduka Seri Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfurlah, The Sultan, Sovereign Ruler and Head of the Government of Perak Abode of Grace and its dependencies, D.K., D.K.S.A., D.K.A.,D.M.N., D.K., D.K., S.P.C.M, S.P.T.S, S.P.M.P., Ph.D, MPA .
He was also appointed as the Regent of Perak twice. The first time was when his father was elected as the ninth Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, where he became Regent for five years, starting from 26 April 1989 until 25 April 1994. When his father's health deteriorated in 2008, Sultan Nazrin served again as the Regent from 27 January 2008 until he ascended the throne and became the Sultan of Perak in 2014.
As the Sultan of Perak he is also the Colonel-in-Chief of the Malaysian Army's Royal Army Engineers Regiment.

Election as Deputy Yang Di-Pertuan Agong

Sultan Nazrin was elected as the Deputy Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia on 14 October 2016. The appointment took effect on 13 December 2016.

Regency

On 2 November 2018, Sultan Nazrin was proclaimed as the Acting Yang Di-Pertuan Agong after Sultan Muhammad V was on medical leave. He ended his duties on 31 December 2018. However, due to the sudden abdication of Sultan Muhammad V as the 15th Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on 6 January 2019, he became again acting King the very next day whilst the Conference of Rulers elects the 16th Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on 24 January 2019 and the subsequent swearing-in ceremony on 31 January 2019.
In the 251st Meeting of the Conference of Rulers, while Sultan Abdullah of Pahang was elected as the 16th Yang Di Pertuan Agong, Sultan Nazrin was re-elected as the Deputy King for a new 5-year term effective on 31st January 2019. His regency as Acting King ended effective at the stroke of midnight on 31st January 2019.

Marriage

Sultan Nazrin of Perak married Zara Salim Davidson at Istana Iskandariah, Bukit Chandan, on 17 May 2007. Sultan Nazrin and Tuanku Zara had known each other for eight years before the wedding.
The day after the wedding there was a ceremony to bestow Tuanku Zara with the official title of Raja Puan Besar of Perak. Nazrin's father had proclaimed Zara Salim Davidson as the Crown Princess of Perak and conferred the Darjah Kerabat on her.
The first child of the couple, Raja Azlan Muzzaffar Shah, was born on 14 March 2008, followed by Raja Nazira Safya Shah, was born on 2 August 2011.

Children and their date of birth

Issue

NameBirthMarriageIssue-
Raja Azlan Muzzaffar Shah, Raja Kechil Besar of Perak14 March 2008
Raja Nazira Safya2 August 2011

Title and styles

He has been awarded:

Honours of Perak

Several places were named after him, including: