Muhriz of Negeri Sembilan

Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir (Jawi: توانكو محرز ابن المرحوم توانكو مناور; born 14 January 1948) is the eleventh Yang di-Pertuan Besar (Chief Ruler) of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. He is only prince out of six siblings of royal couples, the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Munawir and his spouse, Tunku Ampuan Durah.

Issue

Names
Tunku Muhriz ibni Tunku Munawir
Regnal name
Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir

HousePagaruyungFatherTuanku Munawir ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul RahmanMotherTunku Ampuan Durah binti Tunku Besar BurhanuddinReligionSunni IslamMilitary careerAllegiance MalaysiaService/branchRoyal Signals Regiment (Malaysia)
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps (Malaysia)Rank Colonel in Chief

Royal family of Negeri Sembilan
Tuanku Muhriz, The Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Aishah Rohani, the Tunku Ampuan Besar Tunku Ali Redhauddin, the Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin
Muhriz's sisters Yang di-Pertuan Besar's sisters: Tunku Anne Dakhlah YBhg. Dato’ Abdul Malik Siti Mazeera Shazmi Izzam Siti Mazlina Siti Mazlynda Tunku Deborah YBhg. Dato' Ahmad Fuad Tunku Deannah YM Tengku Datuk Amran of Jelebu Tengku Amera Nafisah of Jelebu Tengku Nadia Azrina of Jelebu Tengku Dahira Azirah of Jelebu
Jaafar's family Tunku Naquiah, the Tunku Dara Tunku Mudzaffar, the Tunku Kecil Besar Tunku Nadzimuddin Che Puan Sarimah Ibrahim Tunku Sofia Najihah Tunku Miratun Madihah Dato' James Iskandar Jaafar-Greaves Putera Ryan Puteri Tahlia Tunku Nasaifuddin Che Puan Claire Rania Moore Tunku Arthur Idris Tunku Gabriella Amiera Tunku Nasruan Adil Tunku Naquiyuddin, the Tunku Laksamana Tunku Nurul Hayati of Kedah, the Tunku Puan Muda Tunku Mohammad Alauddin Putri Badrinise Alauddin Tunku Alayna Putri Tunku Alia Nadira Lorance Cheikh El Haddadin Tunku Nadia Sahiya Tunku Khairul-Zaim Tunku Imran, the Tunku Muda Serting Che Engku Puan Sri Nora Marzuki Tunku Khairil Imran Tunku Tarrant Tunku Abdul Rahman Aminu'llah Tunku Jawahir, the Tunku Puteri and Tengku Puan Panglima Besar of Pahang Tengku Azlan Shah, the Tengku Panglima Besar of Pahang Tengku Aslahuddin Jaafar of Pahang Sofia Tengku Muhammad Ayden Saladin of Pahang Tengku Azran of Pahang Tunku Irinah, the Tengku Puan Panglima Raja of Selangor Tengku Ahmad Shah of Selangor, the Tengku Panglima Raja of Selangor Tengku Alam Shah Amiruddin of Selangor Tengku Aiman Shahirah of Selangor Tunku Nadzaruddin, the Tunku Panglima Besar Tunku Mimi Wahida Tunku Muhammad Hazim Shah Raden Tunku Muhammad Mish’al Raden Tunku Ines Najihah Raden
v t e

Early life

Tunku Muhriz is the only son out of six children of the late Tuanku Munawir ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan from 1960 to 1967, and of his consort, Tunku Ampuan Durah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin.

Born in 1948, Tunku Muhriz received his primary & secondary education Tuanku Muhammad School, Kuala Pilah and the Tunku Besar School in Tampin, the King George V School in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan and later at the Aldenham School in the United Kingdom.

Tunku Muhriz obtained a degree in law (LLB) from the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth (later known as the University of Wales, Aberystwyth).

He began his career in an international bank in Malaysia and became a director and shareholder of a company licensed as brokers in interbank foreign exchange and in the currency deposits market (1973–1986). He was the chairman and shareholder of a Malaysian joint venture with a worldwide advertising agency (1981–1992), chairman and director of a joint venture company involved in the manufacturing of building products (1995–1998) and a director and shareholder of a company engaged in electrical engineering and construction (1995 to present). He has been on the board of directors of Bangkok Bank since 2006.

Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti (1961 - 2008)

Tuanku Muhriz was made Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti (the highest ranked of the Putera Yang Empat) in 1961, following the death of his grandfather Tunku Besar Burhanuddin. However, he was bypassed by the Council of Undangs to become Yang di-Pertuan Besar when his father died in 1967 for his half-uncle, Tuanku Ja'afar. Tuanku Jaafar was elected by the Undangs as the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

The Negeri Sembilan Constitution states that the Undangs should elect a suitable and competent ruler first from the sons of the deceased ruler, followed in order from the brothers, then paternal uncles, grandsons, brothers' sons, and paternal uncles' sons of the deceased ruler.^[1]

Tuanku Muhriz was first in the order of succession before the death of Tuanku Munawir, followed by Tunku Nasir Alam (the Tunku Laksamana), Tunku Ja'afar (the Tunku Muda Serting) and Tunku Abdullah (the Tunku Panglima Besar). When Tuanku Munawir died, Tuanku Muhriz was not chosen. Instead the council chose his half-uncle Tuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, a diplomat. It has been suggested that the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, influenced the Undangs not to choose Tuanku Muhriz on account of his youth (he was then only nineteen).

Royal engagement

On 16 February 1973, the royal engagement between the Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti Tunku Muhriz, 25 years old and Terengganu princess Tengku Aishah Rohani, 21 years and 7 months old (for she was four months short of her 22nd birthday) took place at the Istana Terengganu in Jalan Pekeliling, Kuala Lumpur.

Tunku Muhriz was then working as a junior administrative bank officer at Bank Rakyat whilst his future wife, Tengku Aishah Rohani was a clerk at local bank in Malaysia.

Royal marriage

On 25 April 1974 (corresponding to the Islamic calendar date of 2 Rabiul Akhir 1394 Hijri), he tied the knot with Tengku Aishah Rohani, then 23 years of age (but she was still aged 22 years and 10 months old) when he was 26 years old. Their royal marriage was held at Istana Maziah, Kuala Terengganu witnessed by Tunku Muhriz's mother, Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Ampuan Durah along with other members of the Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu royal family.

On 4 May 1974, Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Ampuan Durah held a royal couples' traditional departure ceremony (istiadat keberangkatan pulang pengantin diraja) at Istana Lama Seri Menanti. Their royal highnesses conjoined on the wedding dais Istana Lama Seri Menanti.

Royal family

Tuanku Muhriz is married to Terengganu princess Tengku Aishah Rohani and the royal couple have three princes : Tunku Ali Redhauddin, Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin and Tunku Alif Hussein Saifuddin Al-Amin.

• Their eldest son, His Highness Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin was born on 26 April 1977 at University Hospital, Putrajaya.
• Their second son, His Highness Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin was born on 6 July 1982 at University Hospital, Putrajaya.
• Their youngest son, His Highness Tunku Alif Hussein Saifuddin Al-Amin was born on 3 September 1984 with lack of Vitamin K on his brain. He died on 15 January 2016 at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz following an illness. He was 31 years old. He was laid to rest at the Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum in Kuala Pilah.

Yang di-Pertuan Besar (2008 - Present)

On 29 December 2008, The Council of Undang proclaimed him as the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan succeeding Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman who had died on 27 December 2008. It has been learnt that many prominent Malaysians had backed Tuanku Muhriz to succeed as the Ruler of Negeri Sembilan in view of his modest and dignified personality and by the fact that he was having a successful corporate career. He was also the rightful heir, by tradition, to the throne on the death of his father.

Due to a lifelong habit of keeping a low profile, Tuanku Muhriz was largely unknown outside royal circles in Negeri Sembilan. However, Tuanku Muhriz was hardly the underdog in the intense negotiations that was played out for the position of Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan. During the closed discussions to elect the successor to the late Tuanku Jaafar, at least two, if not all four of the Undangs strongly championed his candidacy. They refused to budge when it was suggested that they consider Tunku Naquiyuddin, Tuanku Jaafar's eldest son, instead as the next Ruler of Negeri Sembilan.

Tuanku Muhriz has throughout his life established and maintained strong ties with the Undangs, the general nobility, the lesser royalty and people of Negeri Sembilan, and more so since moving back to the state a few years ago. He also has powerful backers within the political establishment in the state, with the former Menteri Besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad among his supporters.

There has been a quiet campaign by his loyal supporters at state and federal level to portray him as a well-spoken and well-educated man; someone who had the great strength of character to put aside the disappointment of not being appointed Ruler of the state in 1967: and who continues to lead a dignified and respectable life.

His supporters said that in contrast to members of Tuanku Jaafar's family, Tuanku Muhriz shuns publicity and though he can be very progressive in his outlook, he seems more rooted in traditional ways. Tuanku Jaafar's family are said to be completely devastated with the decision of the Undangs to select Tuanku Muhriz over Tunku Naquiyuddin. They too had several powerful politicians in their camp but the Undangs were not to be swayed.

Colonel in Chief

His Royal Highness Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz is Colonel in Chief of Royal Signals Regiment (Malaysia) and Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer (Malaysia).

Styles and honours

Styles of Tuanku Muhriz
Reference style	His Royal Highness
Spoken style	Your Royal Highness
Alternative style	Tuanku

• 14 April 1948 - 4 April 1960 : His Highness Tunku Muhriz ibni Tunku Munawir
• 5 April 1960 - 5 July 1961 : His Highness Tunku Muhriz ibni Tuanku Munawir
• 6 July 1961 - 14 April 1967 : His Highness Tunku Muhriz ibni Tuanku Munawir, Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti
• 15 April 1967 - 28 December 2009 : His Highness Tunku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti
• 29 December 2009 - present : His Royal Highness Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan

The style of Tuanku Muhriz is :

His Royal Highness Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan

Honours

He was awarded:

•  Negeri Sembilan :
  • Royal Family Order of Negeri Sembilan Grand Master (since 29 December 2008) and Member (25 February 2009)
  • Grand Master of the Order of Negeri Sembilan (since 29 December 2008)
  • Grand Master and Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Yam Tuan Radin Sunnah (since 29 December 2008)
  • Grand Master of the Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (since 29 December 2008)
  • Founding Grand Master of the Order of Loyalty to Tuanku Muhriz (Negeri Sembilan) (since 14 January 2010)
  • Founding Grand Master of the Order of Loyal Service to Negeri Sembilan (since 14 January 2010)
  • Grand Master of the Grand Order of Tuanku Ja’afar (Negeri Sembilan) (since 29 December 2008)
  • Founding Grand Master of the Distinguished Conduct Order (Negeri Sembilan)
  • Recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (PPT)

Malaysia

•  Malaysia :^[2]
  • Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN)
•  Johor :^[2]
  • First Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I)
•  Kedah :
  • Member of the Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK) (13 May 2010)
•  Kelantan :^[2]
  • Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Kelantan or Star of Yunus (DK) (23 Mac 2010)
•  Perak :
  • Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Perak (DK) (5 March 2009)
•  Perlis :^[2]
  • Recipient of the Perlis Family Order of the Gallant Prince Syed Putra Jamalullail (DK)
•  Selangor :
  • First Class of the Royal Family Order of Selangor (DK I) (11 December 2009)
•  Terengganu :^[2]
  • Member first class of the Family Order of Terengganu (DK I)

Ancestry

References

• "Tunku Muhriz Is Proclaimed New Yang Dipertuan Besar Of NS". Bernama. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2008.^{[permanent dead link]}

Regnal titles
Preceded by Tuanku Ja'afar	Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan 2008–present	Succeeded by Incumbent