Abdullah of Pahang facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Abdullah
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| Al-Mustafa Billah (He who is chosen by God) | |||||||||
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Abdullah in 2019
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| King of Malaysia | |||||||||
| Reign | 31 January 2019 – 30 January 2024 | ||||||||
| Installation | 30 July 2019 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Muhammad V | ||||||||
| Successor | Ibrahim Iskandar | ||||||||
| Sultan of Pahang | |||||||||
| Reign | 11 January 2019 – present | ||||||||
| Proclamation | 15 January 2019 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Ahmad Shah | ||||||||
| Heir apparent | Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah | ||||||||
| Born | 30 July 1959 Istana Mangga Tunggal, Pekan, Pahang, Federation of Malaya |
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| House | Bendahara | ||||||||
| Father | Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mu’azzam Shah | ||||||||
| Mother | Tengku Ampuan Hajah Afzan Rahimahallah binti Almarhum Tengku Panglima Perang Tengku Muhammad | ||||||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||||||
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| Education |
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| Military career | |||||||||
| Allegiance |  Malaysia |
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| Service/ |
 Malaysian Army |
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| Years of service | 1978–present | ||||||||
| Rank |  Field marshal Admiral of the Fleet Marshal of the Air Force |
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| Medal record | ||
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| SEA Games | ||
| Gold | 1983 Singapore | Men's tournament |
Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah was the 16th King of Malaysia. He was also the sixth modern Sultan of Pahang. He was born on July 30, 1959.
Abdullah became the Crown Prince of Pahang in 1975. He studied at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and later earned a diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy. In 1986, he married Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah. They have several children, including Hassanal Ibrahim and Muhammad Iskandar. He also has an adopted son, Amir Nasser.
In January 2019, Abdullah became the Sultan of Pahang after his father stepped down due to health reasons. Later that month, he was chosen to be the King of Malaysia. He served as King from January 31, 2019, to January 30, 2024. During his time as King, he played an important role in Malaysian politics, especially during a period of political changes. He appointed several prime ministers during his reign.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Abdullah was born as Tengku Abdullah ibni Tengku Ahmad Shah on July 30, 1959. His birthplace was the Istana Mangga Tunggal in Pekan, Pahang. He is the oldest son of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang and Tengku Ampuan Afzan. He has seven siblings.
His schooling started in 1965 at Clifford School in Kuala Lipis. He then attended Sekolah Kebangsaan Ahmad in Pekan and St. Thomas Primary School. For high school, he went to St. Thomas Secondary School in Kuantan.
Abdullah continued his studies in the UK. He attended Aldenham School from 1975 to 1977. After that, he went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 1978 to 1979. He also studied at Worcester College, Oxford, and Queen Elizabeth College from 1980 to 1981. He graduated with a Diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy.
Military Career
Abdullah began his military journey at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1978. There, he started as an officer cadet. He made friends with people who would later become important leaders, like Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is now the President of the United Arab Emirates.
In 1979, Queen Elizabeth II made him a second lieutenant. He was promoted to captain in 1980 and served as a cavalry officer. He continued to rise through the ranks. In 1987, he became a major.
He was appointed captain of the Malaysian Royal Cavalry Corps. In 1999, he became a lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army Regiment. A year later, in 2000, he was promoted to colonel. His military career reached a significant point in 2004 when he became a brigadier general.
Crown Prince of Pahang
Abdullah became the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, which means the Crown Prince, on July 1, 1975. His official ceremony took place on October 23, 1977.
He also served as the Regent of Pahang twice. A regent is someone who rules when the main ruler is unable to. The first time was from 1979 to 1984, when his father was elected as the King of Malaysia.
The second time he became regent was in 2016. This was because his father's health was getting worse. He continued as regent until he became the Sultan in 2019.
Sultan of Pahang
On January 15, 2019, Abdullah was officially announced as the sixth Sultan of modern Pahang. He was 59 years old at the time. His father had stepped down from the throne because of his health. The ceremony was held at the Istana Abu Bakar. His rule officially began on January 11, 2019.
When he became Sultan, Abdullah took the special title "Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah."
His wife, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, who was the Crown Princess, became the Queen consort of Pahang on January 29, 2019. As Sultan, he is also the Chancellor of University of Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA).
King of Malaysia
On January 24, 2019, the Conference of Rulers chose Abdullah to be the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or King of Malaysia. He took over from Sultan Muhammad V, who had stepped down. Abdullah was officially sworn in on January 31, 2019. He lived at the Istana Negara, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, which is the official palace of the King.
During his time as King, the responsibility of ruling Pahang was given to Abdullah's son, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah. Hassanal was named the Crown Prince and Regent of Pahang on January 29, 2019. He was still studying in the UK at the time. His duties were supported by a council until he finished his studies.
Abdullah's official installation ceremony as King took place on July 30, 2019. This date was also his 60th birthday. It was a special event because both Abdullah and his wife, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, are children of former Kings of Malaysia.
As the King, Abdullah was also the Commander-in-Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces. This meant he held the highest ranks in the army, navy, and air force. He was also the Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM).
Abdullah's time as King was during a challenging political period in Malaysia. There were big changes, including a change in government and the appointment of new prime ministers. He played a key role in making sure the country remained stable. He appointed Mahathir Mohamad as interim prime minister and later Muhyiddin Yassin as the new prime minister.
In October 2020, he did not agree to a request to declare a state of emergency. However, in January 2021, he did declare a nationwide state of emergency. This was to help control the spread of COVID-19 and deal with a political situation. This emergency meant that parliament and elections were paused.
In August 2021, after the prime minister resigned, Abdullah appointed Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the 9th Prime Minister. In October 2022, he approved the dissolution of parliament, which led to a general election. This election resulted in a situation where no single party had a clear majority. Abdullah then named Anwar Ibrahim as the prime minister. Anwar was the fourth prime minister during Abdullah's reign, making him the King who appointed the most prime ministers since Malaysia became independent.
His term as King ended on January 30, 2024. The Conference of Rulers chose Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor as his successor.
Other Activities
Sports
Tengku Abdullah is very active in sports. He enjoys polo, football, and hockey. He has played in tournaments both in Malaysia and other countries. He led the Pahang Royal Polo team in England and has played in places like Singapore, Argentina, and the United States. He won a gold medal in polo at the SEA Games in Singapore in 1983.
He is also a vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and president of the Asian Hockey Federation. He was also a member of the FIFA Council from 2015 to 2019, which is a big deal in international football.
Military Ranks
Abdullah has held many military ranks in Malaysia:
- In the Malaysian Army:
- 1978: Officer cadet
- 1979: Second lieutenant
- 1979: Lieutenant
- 1980: Captain
- 1987: Major
- 1999: Lieutenant colonel
- 2000: Colonel
- 2004: Brigadier general
- In the Royal Malaysian Air Force:
- 2019: Colonel-in-chief
- In the Malaysian Armed Forces:
- 2019: Commander-in-Chief
Personal Life
His first marriage was to Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah on March 6, 1986. She is the daughter of Sultan Iskandar of Johor. Tunku Azizah is now known as the Queen consort of Pahang. She is also the younger sister of the current Sultan of Johor. They have four sons and two daughters together.
His second marriage was to Che Puan Julia Abdul Rais in 1991. She was a former actress. They have three daughters together.
Abdullah also adopted a son before his own children were born:
- Tengku Amir Nasser Ibrahim Shah, adopted in 1987. He was born on August 25, 1986. Tengku Amir Nasser Ibrahim Shah married Puteri Suraiya Afzan Binti Mohamed Moiz in 2013. They have three sons: Tengku Adam Ibrahim Shah (born 2015), Tengku Sulaiman Abdullah Shah (born 2018), and Tengku Nuh Muhammad Shah (born 2022).
Children
Sons
- Tengku Ahmad Iskandar Shah, born and died on July 24, 1990. He was the son of Tunku Azizah.
- Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, the Crown Prince of Pahang. He was born on September 17, 1995, and is the son of Tunku Azizah.
- Tengku Muhammad Iskandar Ri'ayatuddin Shah. He was born on August 3, 1997, and is the son of Tunku Azizah. He married Tengku Natasya Puteri binti Tengku Adnan on October 24, 2024.
- Tengku Ahmad Ismail Muadzam Shah. He was born on September 11, 2000, and is the son of Tunku Azizah. He is a twin with his sister Tengku Puteri Afzan.
Daughters
- Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan. She is the daughter of Julia Abdul Rais, born on November 11, 1992. She married Tengku Abu Bakar Ahmad Bin Almarhum Tengku Abdullah on August 24, 2018. They have two children: a son, Tengku Zayn Edin Shah (born 2019), and a daughter, Tengku Aleya Norlini (born 2022).
- Tengku Puteri Ilisha Ameera. She is the daughter of Julia Abdul Rais, born on October 1, 1995.
- Tengku Puteri Ilyana Alia. She is the daughter of Julia Abdul Rais, born on April 20, 1997.
- Tengku Puteri Afzan Aminah Hafidzatullah. She was born on September 11, 2000, and is the daughter of Tunku Azizah. She is a twin with her brother Tengku Ahmad. She married Fateh Idzham bin Fateh Iskandar on August 22, 2024.
- Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah 'Athiyatullah. She was born on April 27, 2002, and is the daughter of Tunku Azizah.
Titles and Honours
| Styles of Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah |
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| Reference style | His Royal Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Royal Highness |
| Alternative style | Tuanku |
Al-Sultan Abdullah has many important titles and honours. His full title is very long and includes many special awards he has received.
Honours from Pahang
He is the Grand Master of several important orders in Pahang, including:
- The Royal Family Order of Pahang
- The Family Order of the Crown of Indra of Pahang
- The Order of Sri Setia Al-Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah of Pahang
- The Grand Royal Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang
- The Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang
- The Order of the Crown of Pahang
He has also received special medals for the installations and jubilees of past Sultans of Pahang.
Honours from Malaysia and Other States
As King of Malaysia, he was the Grand Master of many national orders, such as:
- The Order of the Royal Family of Malaysia
- The Order of the Crown of the Realm
- The Order of the Defender of the Realm
- The Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia
He has also received honours and medals from other states in Malaysia, including:
- Johor: The Royal Family Order of Johor
- Kedah: The Royal Family Order of Kedah
- Kelantan: The Royal Family Order of Kelantan
- Perak: The Royal Family Order of Perak
- Perlis: The Perlis Family Order of the Gallant Prince Syed Putra Jamalullail
- Selangor: The Royal Family Order of Selangor
- Terengganu: The Family Order of Terengganu
International Honours
Abdullah has also received special honours from other countries:
- Brunei: The Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei
- Monaco: The Order of Saint-Charles
- Turkey: The Order of the State of Republic of Turkey
- United Kingdom: The Sandhurst Medal
Honorary Degrees
He has received honorary doctorate degrees from several universities:
- In Malaysia:
- International Islamic University Malaysia (2023)
- Multimedia University (2024)
- In Turkey:
- Marmara University (2022)
Places Named After Him
Many places and institutions have been named in honour of Al-Sultan Abdullah:
- Al-Sultan Abdullah Mosque in the Menara Merdeka 118 complex, Kuala Lumpur
- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) in Pekan, Pahang
- Al-Sultan Abdullah Mosque in Telok Melano, Sarawak
- Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Mosque in Jengka, Pahang
- Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Puncak Alam, Selangor
- Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve in Jerantut, Pahang
- Al-Sultan Abdullah Camp of the Joint Forces Headquarters in Kuantan, Pahang
- Al-Sultan Abdullah Foundation Hemodialysis Cantres in various locations
- Al-Sultan Abdullah Mosque in Kampung Sungai Bedaun, Labuan
- Al-Sultan Abdullah Mosque in Masjid Tanah, Malacca
- Tengku Mahkota Abdullah Mosque in Kuantan, Pahang
- Tengku Mahkota Abdullah Mosque in Jerantut, Pahang
- Tengku Mahkota Abdullah Mosque in Rompin, Pahang
- Tengku Abdullah Al-Haj Mosque in Balok, Pahang
- Tengku Abdullah Hockey Stadium in Bangi, Selangor
- Tengku Abdullah Science School (SEMESTA Raub), a secondary school in Raub, Pahang
See also
In Spanish: Abdullah de Pahang para niños
