Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu

Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 2006 to 2011

Mizan Zainal Abidin
Sultanah Nur Zahirah
(m. 1996)
Issue
Detail
  • Tengku Nadhirah Zahrah
  • Tengku Muhammad Ismail
  • Tengku Muhammad Mua′az
  • Tengku Fatimatuz Zahra’
Names
Tengku Mizan Zainal Abidin ibni Tengku Mahmud
Regnal name
Al-Wathiqu Billah Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
HouseBendahara dynasty
FatherSultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah
MotherTengku Besar Terengganu Fatimah @ Sharifah Nong Alsagoff binti Abdillah
ReligionSunni Islam
Military career
Allegiance Malaysia
Service/branch Malaysian Army
RankField Marshal
UnitRoyal Armoured Corps
Royal family of Terengganu

Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, the Sultan
Sultanah Nur Zahirah, the Sultanah

  • Tengku Muhammad Ismail, the Yang di-Pertuan Muda (the Crown Prince)
  • Tengku Nadhirah Zahrah, the Tengku Puteri Utama Raja
  • Tengku Muhammad Mua’az, the Tengku Sri Setia Mahkota Raja
  • Tengku Fatimatuz Zahra’, the Tengku Puteri Daulath Raja

Tengku Dato' Mustafa Kamil, the Tengku Sri Bendahara Raja
To’ Puan Jasmine Abdullah

  • Tengku Sharif Mahmud
  • Tengku Daniel Haqeem
  • Tengku Nabil al-Muktafi

Tengku Dato' Seri Badrul Zaman, the Tengku Sri Panglima Raja
To' Puan Seri Wan Hibatul Hidayah

  • Tengku Emira Shaza
  • Tengku Muhammad Ryan Faiz
  • Tengku Reyad Feysal

Tengku Dato' Seri Baharuddin, the Tengku Sri Temenggong Raja
To' Puan Seri Nabilah Khan

  • Tengku Muhammad Ashman
  • Tengku Muhammad Ariesh
  • Tengku Muhammad Ozaer
  • Tengku Muhammad Adreez
  • Tengku Muhammad Mahmud Akbar Nasreddine Haqqani
Tengku Dato’ Ibrahim Shah, the Tengku Seri Paduka Raja
To’ Puan Nurul Izatee Md Yusof
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Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu
Medal record
Equestrian
Representing  Malaysia
SEA Games
Gold medal – first place 2017 Kuala Lumpur Individual endurance
Gold medal – first place 2017 Kuala Lumpur Team endurance

Al-Wathiqu Billah Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah (Jawi: الواثق بالله سلطان ميزان زين العابدين ابن المرحوم سلطان محمود المکتفي بالله شاه; born 22 January 1962) is Sultan of Terengganu, reigning since 1998. He previously reigned as the thirteenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the constitutional monarch of Malaysia, from 2006 to 2011.

Early life and education

Mizan Zainal Abidin was born at Istana Al-Muktafi in Kuala Terengganu, the eldest son of Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah by his second wife, Fatimah Sharifah Nong Alsagoff binti Abdillah. Sharifah's family is of Arab descent, from Sayid Omar Aljunied (her maternal great-grandfather), one of the modern pioneers of Singapore.[1]

Mizan Zainal Abidin studied at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Sulaiman and Sekolah Menengah Sultan Sulaiman, Kuala Terengganu. He went overseas to study at the Geelong Grammar School in Geelong, Australia. In 1988, he completed his undergraduate studies at US International University-Europe (now called Alliant International University) in London, earning a B.A. in International Relations.

Mizan Zainal Abidin participated in the military course PRE SMC (E) 33 at the Army School of Languages from 1982 to 1983. He then studied the military course SMC 33 at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England, successfully completing the course as Cadet Officer on 9 December 1983.

Career before becoming Sultan

On 15 September 1981, Tengku Mizan was appointed as Assistant Land Levy Collector, working for a period of about a year at the District and Land Office in Kuala Terengganu, prior to his departure overseas to attend the military course in England. Tengku Mizan's next appointment in 1988 was becoming a State Administrative Officer at the State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) in Wisma Darul Iman, Kuala Terengganu. Besides working for UPEN, Tengku Mizan was also seconded as an Assistant District Land Officer at the Kuala Terengganu District and Land Office.

Sultan

Mizan was appointed the Yang di-Pertuan Muda of the State of Terengganu on 6 November 1979. On 20 October 1990, he was appointed the Regent of Terengganu to 8 November 1990.

From 1990 to 1995, Mizan was President of the Council for Islam and Malay Culture of Terengganu.

Mizan became the youngest ruler of a Malaysian federal state when he acceded the throne as the Sultan of Terengganu on 15 May 1998 following the death of his father, Sultan Mahmud. Mizan was crowned as the 17th Sultan of Terengganu on 4 March 1999.

2008 Menteri Besar Appointment Crisis

The state of Terengganu, where Barisan Nasional won two-thirds of the seats in the state parliament, was the last to appoint a Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) after the 2008 general elections. In the formation of the new Terengganu state government, the federal government under Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recommended Idris Jusoh as Menteri Besar, who received full support of 23 of the 24 Barisan Nasional state assemblymen elected.[2] However, on 22 March, the office of the Sultan of Terengganu announced the appointment of Kijal assemblyman Ahmad Said instead of Idris Jusoh,[3] as was the Sultan's constitutional right.

The Prime Minister claimed that the appointment of Ahmad Said was unconstitutional as it went against the wishes of the assemblymen and the Prime Minister's office, all of whom had supported Idris Jusoh's candidacy for Menteri Besar.[4]

On 26 March, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin met at Istana Negara to resolve the impasse. The Prime Minister accepted the King's appointment of Ahmad Said as Menteri Besar of Terengganu. He also apologised to the King for the public spat over the appointment of the Menteri Besar, explaining that there was no intention to disparage or humiliate the royal household. This apparent climbdown was due to the possibility that the royal household would be prepared to dissolve the state assembly if there had been a motion of no-confidence against Ahmad Said by the 23 UMNO state assemblymen.[5]

Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Mizan was appointed Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 26 April 1999 after Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, the Sultan of Selangor was elected the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong by the Conference of Rulers. Following the illness and subsequently death of Salahuddin, Mizan served as Acting YDPA from 8 October to 12 December 2001.

Mizan was re-appointed Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 13 December 2001 after the Conference of Rulers elected Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin as the 12th YDPA.

Mizan served as the first Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) from 2001 to 2006.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Mizan (right) with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, 2010

On 3 November 2006, Mizan was elected by the Conference of Rulers to become the thirteenth YDPA, with his five-year term starting 13 December 2006. The Conference of Rulers appointed Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah as the Deputy YDPA. Mizan's appointment was the fourth following a second rotation system amongst the nine Malay Rulers. This five-year rotational constitutional monarchy is unique to Malaysia.

On 26 April 2007, Mizan was formally installed as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.[6][7]

Mizan, 44, is the third youngest YDPA after Tuanku Syed Putra of Perlis and Tuanku Abdul Halim of Kedah who were elected at age 40 and 43 respectively. He is also the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong born after Malaya gained independence, which fell on 31 August 1957.

Marriage and family

Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, the Sultan
Sultanah Nur Zahirah, the Sultanah

  • Tengku Muhammad Ismail, the Yang di-Pertuan Muda (the Crown Prince)
  • Tengku Nadhirah Zahrah, the Tengku Puteri Utama Raja
  • Tengku Muhammad Mua’az, the Tengku Sri Setia Mahkota Raja
  • Tengku Fatimatuz Zahra’, the Tengku Puteri Daulath Raja

Tengku Dato' Mustafa Kamil, the Tengku Sri Bendahara Raja
To’ Puan Jasmine Abdullah

  • Tengku Sharif Mahmud
  • Tengku Daniel Haqeem
  • Tengku Nabil al-Muktafi

Tengku Dato' Seri Badrul Zaman, the Tengku Sri Panglima Raja
To' Puan Seri Wan Hibatul Hidayah

  • Tengku Emira Shaza
  • Tengku Muhammad Ryan Faiz
  • Tengku Reyad Feysal

Tengku Dato' Seri Baharuddin, the Tengku Sri Temenggong Raja
To' Puan Seri Nabilah Khan

  • Tengku Muhammad Ashman
  • Tengku Muhammad Ariesh
  • Tengku Muhammad Ozaer
  • Tengku Muhammad Adreez
  • Tengku Muhammad Mahmud Akbar Nasreddine Haqqani
Tengku Dato’ Ibrahim Shah, the Tengku Seri Paduka Raja
To’ Puan Nurul Izatee Md Yusof
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Mizan married Sultanah Nur Zahirah on 28 March 1996 in Kuala Terengganu. She is the second Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) to habitually wear the hijab (ritual Islamic headscarf for women), and the third to have been born a commoner.

The royal couple has two sons and two daughters:

  • Her Highness Tengku Nadhirah Zahrah, the Tengku Puteri Utama Raja (b. 18 December 1996)
  • His Royal Highness Tengku Muhammad Ismail, the Crown Prince (b. 1 March 1998)
  • His Highness Tengku Muhammad Mua′az, the Tengku Sri Setia Mahkota Raja (b. 22 December 2000)
  • Her Highness Tengku Fatimatuz Zahra’, the Tengku Puteri Daulath Raja (b. 19 April 2002)

After Sultan Mizan was elected as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he appointed Tengku Muhammad Ismail, then aged eight, as Regent on 12 November 2006.[8] Because of Tengku Muhammad Ismail's young age, a three-member Regency Advisory Council was established to discharge his duties for him. The council's members were Tengku Baderulzaman, Sultan Mizan's younger brother, Tengku Sulaiman Ismail, Sultan Mizan's uncle, and former Federal Court judge Dato' Abdul Kadir Sulaiman. He was proclaimed as regent during a ceremony on 12 December.[9]

Upon reaching Mukallaf (13 years of age), the Islamic age of responsibility, and according to Shariah law and the constitution of Terengganu, Tengku Muhammad Ismail became able to discharge his duties himself. However, the Sultan formed another council, Majlis Perwakilan Pemangku Raja, to perform the Regent’s duty while he was away from Terengganu pursuing his studies. This second and current council is headed by Tengku Mustafa Kamel, another of Sultan Mizan’s younger brothers, together with former Regency Advisory Council members Tengku Sri Laksamana Raja Tengku Sulaiman Ismail and Dato' Haji Abdul Kadir Sulaiman.

During his younger days, Sultan Mizan was a keen footballer. He is currently active in golf, endurance riding and scuba diving. In addition, the Global Taekwondo Federation (GTF) awarded Mizan an Honorary 7th Degree Black Belt in recognition of his active participation in the sport.

Honours

See also : List of honours of the Terengganu Royal Family by country

He has been awarded the following honours:

Honours of Terengganu

Honours of Malaysia

Foreign Honours

Honorary doctorate

Legacy

Several projects and institutions were named after the Sultan, including:

Educational institutions

  • Institut Pendidikan Guru, Kampus Sultan Mizan in Besut
  • Politeknik Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin in Dungun
  • SMK Tengku Mizan Zainal Abidin in Kuala Terengganu

Buildings, Bridges and Roads

Others

  • Yayasan DiRaja Sultan Mizan (YDSM) or Sultan Mizan Royal Foundation

Ancestry

Ancestors of Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu
16. Sultan Ahmad Muadzam Shah II of Terengganu
8. Sultan Zainal Abidin III of Terengganu
17. Tengku Kulsum binti Sultan Muhammad Muadzam Shah
4. Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin of Terengganu
Encik Abdullah
9. Cik Maimuna binti Encik Abdullah
2. Sultan Mahmud of Terengganu
20. Sultan Ahmad Muadzam Shah of Pahang
10. Tengku ‘Umar bin Sultan Ahmad Muadzam Shah
21. Raja Badariya binti Sultan Idris Murshidul Adzam Shah
5. Tengku Tengah Zahara binti Tengku ‘Umar
22. Engku Tun Mansur bin Maharaja Tun Ali
11. Engku Umaiya binti Engku Tun Mansur
23. Cik Wok Fatima binti Haji Abdul Ghani
1. Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu
12. Sayyid Salleh Al-Sagoff
6. Sayyid Abdillah bin Sayyid Salleh
3. Fatimah @ Sharifah Nong Alsagoff binti Sayyid Abdillah
28. Sayyid Omar Al-Junied
14. Sayyid Abdul Rahman bin Sayyid Junied
7. Sharifa Aisha binti Sayyid Abdul Rahman

References

  1. ^ Al-Mahjar Archived 3 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "23 Terengganu Assemblymen Pledge Support For Idris Jusoh". Bernama.
  3. ^ "Malaysia: The MB For Terengganu Finally Appointed". Sin Chew.
  4. ^ "Terengganu MB Appointment Unconstitutional, Says Abdullah". Bernama.
  5. ^ "Ahmad Said stays Mentri Besar". Malaysia Insider. 26 March 2008. Archived from the original on 29 March 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
  6. ^ Associated Press, "Malaysia's 16th king formally installed in tradition-steeped ceremony", International Herald Tribune, 26 April 2007.
  7. ^ "Malaysia's new king takes office", BBC, 26 April 2007, 09:00 GMT 10:00 UK
  8. ^ Ng, Eileen (4 June 2011). "People's welfare comes first". New Straits Times. p. 1.
  9. ^ "Sultan Mizan moved to tears at ceremony". The Star. 13 December 2006. Archived from the original on 27 January 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  10. ^ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 2007" (PDF).
  11. ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang, dan Pingat Persekutuan".
  12. ^ List of Malay rulers (as of January 2013) with details of orders
  13. ^ TUANKU MIZAN TERIMA ANUGERAH IJAZAH DOKTOR KEHORMAT
  • Sultan Mizan moved to tears at ceremony, The Star, 13 December 2006.
  • Sultan Mizan the second youngest to become King, The Star, 14 December 2006.
  • Majestic welcome for Terengganu royals, The Star, 14 December 2006.
Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu
Bendahara Dynasty
Born: 1962
Regnal titles
Preceded by Sultan of Terengganu
1998–present
Incumbent
Heir apparent:
Muhammad Ismail
Preceded by Regent of Malaysia
2001
Succeeded by
Preceded by Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia
2006–2011
Succeeded by
  • v
  • t
  • e
Sultans of Terengganu
  • Zainal Abidin I (1725–1733)
  • Mansur Shah I (1733–1793)
  • Zainal Abidin II (1793–1808)
  • Ahmad Shah I (1808–1830)
  • Abdul Rahman (1830–1831)
  • Omar Riayat Shah and Mansur Shah II (1831)
  • Mansur Shah II (1831–1837)
  • Muhammad Shah I (1837–1839)
  • Omar Riayat Shah (1839–1876)
  • Mahmud Shah (1876)
  • Ahmad Muadzam Shah II (1876–1881)
  • Zainal Abidin III (1881–1918)
  • Muhammad Shah II (1918–1920)
  • Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah (1920–1942)
  • Ali Shah (1942–1945)
  • Ismail Nasiruddin (1945–1979)
  • Mahmud (1979–1998)
  • Mizan Zainal Abidin (1998–present)
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