Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin

Infobox_Monarch | name =Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin
title =12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia (King of Malaysia) and Raja of Perlis


caption =Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin and Tengku Fauziah binti Almarhum Tengku Abdul Rashid

reign =7th Raja of Perlis
17 April 2000 - Present
11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong
13 December 2001 - 12 December 2006
coronation =17 April 2000
predecessor =Tuanku Syed Putra ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail
successor =Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu
suc-type =Raja Muda
heir =Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra
consort =Tengku Fauziah binti Almarhum Tengku Abdul Rashid
issue =Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra
Sharifah Fazira
royal house =Perlis
royal anthem =
father =Tuanku Syed Putra ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail
mother =Tengku Budriah binti Almarhum Tengku Ismail
date of birth =Birth date and age|1943|05|17|df=yes
place of birth =Arau, Perlis
date of death =
place of death =
buried =|

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail is the second of ten children of HRH Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail and HRH Tengku Budriah binti Almarhum Tengku Ismail. He was born in Arau, Perlis on 17 May 1943. According to Malaysian protocol, as a former king, he retains the title "His Royal Highness" for life.

Early life and education

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin studied at the Arau Malay School until standard two, then from 5 January 1950 he continued his primary education at Wellesley Primary School in Penang followed by Westland Primary School until the end of 1955. Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin began his secondary education at Penang Free School on 9 January 1956 and later left for England to study at Wellingborough School for four years until 1963. Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin also underwent training as a Cadet Officer at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, England from January 1964 until December 1965.

Career before becoming Raja

Upon his return from England, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin served with the Ministry of Defence Malaysia. The first post held by Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin was as Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Regiment of the Malaysian Reconnaissance Corps (12 December 1965). In 1966, he was transferred to Sabah and then to Sarawak in 1967. He then served in Pahang for several years until he resigned on 31 December 1969 to return to Perlis. Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in December 1967.

In 1970, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin served in the armed forces again, as Captain of the Local Territorial Army from 16 November 1970 until 1 October 1972. He was later promoted to the rank of Major on 1 October 1972. Presently, he is the Commanding Officer of Regiment 504 of the Army Reserve Unit with the rank of Colonel.

Raja of Perlis

In October 1960, he was appointed the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Perlis while still a student. Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail was installed as the twelfth ruler of Perlis on 17 April 2000, the day after his father, Tuanku Syed Putra ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail, who had been Raja since 1945, and at that time the world's longest reigning monarch, died.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin was elected the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia on 13 December 2001. This was earlier than expected because the Sultan of Selangor and the previous 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Sir Hisamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj, died on November 21, 2001 while his term should have ended in 2004. Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin's term ended on December 12, 2006.

Personal life

On 15 February 1967 he married Tengku Fauziah binti Almarhum Tengku Abdul Rashid D.K., S.S.P.J., S.P.M.P., daughter of Tengku Abdul Rashid ibni Almarhum Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah of Terengganu, by his wife Tengku Kembang Puteri binti Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim Petra of Kelantan, who became the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis. Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin was appointed for the first time as the Regent of Perlis when HRH the Raja of Perlis and HRH the Raja Perempuan of Perlis travelled to the United States and Europe from 23 June 1967 until 24 October 1967. Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin has one son, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra who was born on 30 December 1967 and a daughter Sharifah Fazira, born on 5 June 1973.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin has travelled to many countries including United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Egypt, Spain, Libya, Holland, Belgium, Thailand and Saudi Arabia.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin interacts frequently with his people through various fields, among which are:

i) Chairman of the Rayuan Binaan Wisma Pahlawan Negeri Perlis and Chairman of the Exhibition Committee of the Malaysian Royal Armed Forces in Perlis on 1 April 1971.
ii) Chairman of the Association of Malaysian Ex-Servicemen, Perlis branch for five years.
iii) Chairman of the Rayuan Derma Hari Pahlawan Negeri Perlis since 1972.
iv) Patron of 4B Youth Movement of Perlis.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin is also active in sports. Among his favourite sports are golf, tennis, football and is a fan of Tottenham Hotspur football club. He has been the Chairman of Putra Golf Club, Perlis since May 1971, and the patron of the Association of Football Referees of Perlis since 1967. He was also the Chairman of the Football Association of Perlis for 18 years.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin is renowned for his dedication towards his people and takes great interest in education. With the establishment of the Tuanku Syed Putra Foundation in 1986, many Perlis students have been able to further their studies locally and abroad. Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin is the Chairman of this Foundation.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin became directly involved in religious affairs when he was appointed President of the Islamic Council of Perlis by the late Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra, the then ruler of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin is especially concerned that the religious affairs of the state are based on the ‘Ahlis Sunnah Waljamaah’ doctrine. In this regard, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin is constantly in touch with the religious leaders of Perlis.

Honours

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin held the rank of Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Malaysia/malay2.htm]

References

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1304569.stm BBC News] - country profile for Malaysia
* [http://www.uitm.edu.my/portal/main.php?Content=sections&SubSectionID=27&SectionID=26 UiTM Chancellor] - Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi MARA