Tuanku Abdul Rahman
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Paduka Sri
Sir
Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad, GCMG (24 August 1895 – 1 April 1960) was the first Supreme Head of State (Yang di-Pertuan Agong
) of the Federation of Malaya
, eighth Yang di-Pertuan Besar
of Seri Menanti and second Yang di-Pertuan Besar
of modern Negeri Sembilan
.
, first Yang di-Pertuan Besar of modern Negeri Sembilan
and seventh Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Seri Menanti (1888–1933) by his consort Tunku Puan Chik.
He received his primary education at the Jempol Malay School, going on to the Malay College between 1907 and 1914. He worked at the Federal Secretariat in Kuala Lumpur
for a period of one year before being appointed Assistant Collector of Land Revenue in Seremban
. He served in the Malayan Volunteer Infantry as a Second Lieutenant, to be promoted Lieutenant in 1918.
On the death of his elder brother, Tunku Abdul Aziz, in 1917, he was groomed as heir to the throne and received the title of Tunku Muda Serting.
Tuanku Abdul Rahman was later appointed as Assistant Malay Officer in Klang
before being transferred to Sepang
. He was then assigned to work in Ulu Selangor as Assistant Collector of Land Revenue. As a result of his perseverance and diligence, he was promoted to Assistant District Officer. The turning point of his career was in 1925, when he served for a short period in the Kuala Lumpur Supreme Court.
In 1925, he accompanied his father, who was then the ruler of Negeri Sembilan, on a trip to the United Kingdom
for the British Empire Exhibition in Wembley and to visit His Majesty King George V
. During the journey to the United Kingdom, he decided that he wanted to study law. With the approval of his father Tuanku Muhammad, Tuanku Abdul Rahman stayed in the United Kingdom until he completed his studies and received a degree in law.
He stayed on to qualify as a barrister from Inner Temple
. Three years later, he was admitted to the bar. In London, he was elected first President of the Kesatuan Melayu United Kingdom
, one of the earliest Malay nationalist groups.
Upon returning to Malaya in December 1928, he served in the Malayan Civil Service in various parts of the country. For the first few years, he worked hard until he became a Magistrate. Subsequently, he was appointed District Officer.
or Ruling Chieftains of Negeri Sembilan. His accession was witnessed by brother ruler Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah
of Selangor
.
At that time, he was already an advocate, hence making him the only Malay ruler with an advocate and solicitor’s qualifications.
Tuanku Abdul Rahman (as he became) admitted to British interrogators that he had made speeches in favour of the Japanese during the latter's military occupation of Malaya (1942–1945) but this had been done under duress and that the Japanese forcibly removed certain of his royal privileges.
Although he subsequently signed the Malayan Union
treaty, he repudiated it later and upon the suggestion of Sultan Badlishah of Kedah
, engaged a London-based lawyer to represent the case of the Malay rulers against the Malayan Union plan of Clement Attlee
's government.
or Paramount Ruler of independent Malaya on 3 August 1957 for a five year term by eight votes to one, defeating the more senior Sultan Abu Bakar of Pahang
.
He had been the ruler of Negeri Sembilan for 24 years before being elected as the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
As Malay rulers do not traditionally possess crowns, he was installed by kissing the royal kris of state (keris kerajaan) to the beat of the nobat, a tradition which has been followed by every Yang di-Pertuan Agong since.
In honour of Tuanku Abdul Rahman, all subsequent Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia have also used the headdress Dendam Tak Sudah (literally Unending Revenge), the fashion employed in Negeri Sembilan
.
in the early morning of 1 April 1960. The lying in state was held at the Banquet Hall of the Istana Negara. On 2 April 1960, a state funeral procession was held in Kuala Lumpur, whereupon the teak coffin of His Late Majesty was then taken by train to Seremban and later by hearse to the Istana Besar
, Seri Menanti. He was buried at the Royal Mausoleum
in Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan on 5 April 1960.
's "high handed" manner and wanted the King to sack him. To this, His Late Majesty replied: "Alas I can't sack him; he is elected by the people, and as Prime Minister of the country he can sack me!"
Tuanku Abdul Rahman has three sons and five daughters. His second wife, HRH Tuanku Maharum gave birth first to a boy, HRH Tuanku Munawir, the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan. Cik Engku Maimunah, his first wife, gave birth to two boys and two girls. The eldest is HRH Tunku Aidah, followed by HRH Tuanku Jaafar
(the tenth Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, HRH Tunku Sheilah and HRH Tunku Abdullah.
Two of his children succeeded him as Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan:
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Paduka Sri
Sri
Sri , also transliterated as Shri or Shree or shre is a word of Sanskrit origin, used in the Indian subcontinent as polite form of address equivalent to the English "Mr." in written and spoken language, or as a title of veneration for deities .-Etymology:Sri has the root meaning of radiance, or...
Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad, GCMG (24 August 1895 – 1 April 1960) was the first Supreme Head of State (Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
) of the Federation of Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
, eighth Yang di-Pertuan Besar
Yang di-Pertuan Besar
In Malay, Yang di-Pertuan Besar, literally "He Who Is Made Great" or "Great Ruler", is a royal title.-In Malaysia:# Also known as Yamtuan Besar, it is the title of the elected monarch of the state of Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia...
of Seri Menanti and second Yang di-Pertuan Besar
Yang di-Pertuan Besar
In Malay, Yang di-Pertuan Besar, literally "He Who Is Made Great" or "Great Ruler", is a royal title.-In Malaysia:# Also known as Yamtuan Besar, it is the title of the elected monarch of the state of Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia...
of modern Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
.
Early career
Born Tunku Abdul Rahman at Seri Menanti, he was the second son of Tuanku Muhammad ibni Almarhum Tuanku AntahTuanku Muhammad
In full, Colonel His Highness Paduka Sri Sir Tuanku Muhammad Shah ibn al-Marhum Tuanku Antah, GCMG, KCVO, was the first Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, who ruled from 1888 to 1933. During his reign, Negeri Sembilan came under British protection in 1889 and became a Federated Malay State...
, first Yang di-Pertuan Besar of modern Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
and seventh Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Seri Menanti (1888–1933) by his consort Tunku Puan Chik.
He received his primary education at the Jempol Malay School, going on to the Malay College between 1907 and 1914. He worked at the Federal Secretariat in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
for a period of one year before being appointed Assistant Collector of Land Revenue in Seremban
Seremban
Seremban is the capital of the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan, located within the district of Seremban, one of the seven districts of Negeri Sembilan. The town's administration is run by the Seremban Municipal Council or Majlis Perbandaran Seremban...
. He served in the Malayan Volunteer Infantry as a Second Lieutenant, to be promoted Lieutenant in 1918.
On the death of his elder brother, Tunku Abdul Aziz, in 1917, he was groomed as heir to the throne and received the title of Tunku Muda Serting.
Tuanku Abdul Rahman was later appointed as Assistant Malay Officer in Klang
Klang
Klang , formerly known as Kelang, is the royal city and former capital of the state of Selangor, Malaysia. It is located within the Klang District in Klang Valley. It is located about 32 km to the west of Kuala Lumpur and 6 km east of Port Klang...
before being transferred to Sepang
Sepang
Sepang is a town and district located in the southern part of the state of Selangor in Malaysia. Formerly a small town, Sepang grew to several recent developments...
. He was then assigned to work in Ulu Selangor as Assistant Collector of Land Revenue. As a result of his perseverance and diligence, he was promoted to Assistant District Officer. The turning point of his career was in 1925, when he served for a short period in the Kuala Lumpur Supreme Court.
In 1925, he accompanied his father, who was then the ruler of Negeri Sembilan, on a trip to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for the British Empire Exhibition in Wembley and to visit His Majesty King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
. During the journey to the United Kingdom, he decided that he wanted to study law. With the approval of his father Tuanku Muhammad, Tuanku Abdul Rahman stayed in the United Kingdom until he completed his studies and received a degree in law.
He stayed on to qualify as a barrister from Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
. Three years later, he was admitted to the bar. In London, he was elected first President of the Kesatuan Melayu United Kingdom
Kesatuan Melayu United Kingdom
Kesatuan Melayu United Kingdom was formed in 1920 by Malay students studying in the United Kingdom. Its main aim was to nurture nationalism amongst the younger Malay intellectuals....
, one of the earliest Malay nationalist groups.
Upon returning to Malaya in December 1928, he served in the Malayan Civil Service in various parts of the country. For the first few years, he worked hard until he became a Magistrate. Subsequently, he was appointed District Officer.
Election as Ruler of Negeri Sembilan
On the death of his father, HRH Tuanku Muhammad, on 3 August 1933, Tunku Abdul Rahman was elected Yang di-Pertuan Besar by the four UndangUndang
An Undang is a ruling chief or territorial chief who still play an important role in the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The name is believed to be derived from the Malay word undang-undang meaning law....
or Ruling Chieftains of Negeri Sembilan. His accession was witnessed by brother ruler Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah
Sultan Sulaiman
Almarhum Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah ibni Almarhum Raja Muda Musa GCMG, KCVO, was the fifth Sultan of Selangor from 1898 until 1938...
of Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
.
At that time, he was already an advocate, hence making him the only Malay ruler with an advocate and solicitor’s qualifications.
Tuanku Abdul Rahman (as he became) admitted to British interrogators that he had made speeches in favour of the Japanese during the latter's military occupation of Malaya (1942–1945) but this had been done under duress and that the Japanese forcibly removed certain of his royal privileges.
Although he subsequently signed the Malayan Union
Malayan Union
The Malayan Union was a federation of the Malay states and the Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca. It was the successor to British Malaya and was conceived to unify the Malay Peninsula under a single government so as to simplify administration. The Malayan Union later became the independent...
treaty, he repudiated it later and upon the suggestion of Sultan Badlishah of Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
, engaged a London-based lawyer to represent the case of the Malay rulers against the Malayan Union plan of Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
's government.
Election as King
Tuanku Abdul Rahman was elected first Yang di-Pertuan AgongYang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
or Paramount Ruler of independent Malaya on 3 August 1957 for a five year term by eight votes to one, defeating the more senior Sultan Abu Bakar of Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
.
He had been the ruler of Negeri Sembilan for 24 years before being elected as the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Installation
Tuanku Abdul Rahman was installed as the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong of independent Malaya on 13 September 1957 at the throne room of the Istana Negara.As Malay rulers do not traditionally possess crowns, he was installed by kissing the royal kris of state (keris kerajaan) to the beat of the nobat, a tradition which has been followed by every Yang di-Pertuan Agong since.
In honour of Tuanku Abdul Rahman, all subsequent Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia have also used the headdress Dendam Tak Sudah (literally Unending Revenge), the fashion employed in Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
.
Death and funeral
Tuanku Abdul Rahman died in his sleep at Istana Negara in Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
in the early morning of 1 April 1960. The lying in state was held at the Banquet Hall of the Istana Negara. On 2 April 1960, a state funeral procession was held in Kuala Lumpur, whereupon the teak coffin of His Late Majesty was then taken by train to Seremban and later by hearse to the Istana Besar
Istana Besar
Istana Besar or Grand Palace is the royal palace of the Sultanate of Johor which is located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.-Overview:Standing tall in the city of Johor Bahru, the palace was built in 1866 by Sultan Abu Bakar...
, Seri Menanti. He was buried at the Royal Mausoleum
Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum
Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum is a Negeri Sembilan royal mausoleum located in the royal town of Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. This mausoleum is located next to the Tuanku Munawir Royal Mosque.-Yang di-Pertuan Besar graves:...
in Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan on 5 April 1960.
Belief in democracy
Tuanku Abdul Rahman believed strongly in parliamentary democracy and one of his most memorable quotes was to a foreign dignitary from the Middle East who in 1959 complained about Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-HajTunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the...
's "high handed" manner and wanted the King to sack him. To this, His Late Majesty replied: "Alas I can't sack him; he is elected by the people, and as Prime Minister of the country he can sack me!"
Family life
Tuanku Abdul Rahman married four times. His marriages were:- in 1919 to Dulcie Campbell, a Eurasian nurse who embraced Islam as Cik Maimunah (divorced)
- in 1920 to Tunku Maharun binti Tunku Mambang, a member of the Negeri Sembilan royal family (divorced)
- in 1929 to Tunku Kurshiah binti Tunku Besar BurhanuddinTunku KurshiahTunku Kurshiah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin is the former Tunku Ampuan Besar or Queen of Negeri Sembilan. She also served as the first Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia between 1957 to 1960....
, a cousin, who became first Raja Permaisuri AgongRaja Permaisuri AgongRaja Permaisuri Agong, or in full, Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong, is the title given to the Queen of Malaysia, consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.The holders of this office have been:...
or Queen of Malaya - in 1948 to Tunku Zaidah binti Tunku Zakaria (1922–present), another cousin
Tuanku Abdul Rahman has three sons and five daughters. His second wife, HRH Tuanku Maharum gave birth first to a boy, HRH Tuanku Munawir, the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan. Cik Engku Maimunah, his first wife, gave birth to two boys and two girls. The eldest is HRH Tunku Aidah, followed by HRH Tuanku Jaafar
Tuanku Jaafar
Duli Yang Maha Mulia Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, GCB was the tenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia from 26 April 1994 until 25 April 1999 and the fourth Yang di-Pertuan Besar of modern Negeri Sembilan.-Early life and education:The second son of Tuanku Abdul Rahman...
(the tenth Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, HRH Tunku Sheilah and HRH Tunku Abdullah.
Two of his children succeeded him as Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan:
- Tuanku Munawir (son of Tunku Maharun), who reigned 1960–1967
- Tuanku JaafarTuanku JaafarDuli Yang Maha Mulia Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, GCB was the tenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia from 26 April 1994 until 25 April 1999 and the fourth Yang di-Pertuan Besar of modern Negeri Sembilan.-Early life and education:The second son of Tuanku Abdul Rahman...
(son of Dulcie Campbell), who succeeded his brother in 1967 and reigned till 27 December 2008
Hobbies and interests
Tuanku Abdul Rahman had a keen interest in sports such as cricket, football and tennis. However, his favourite sport was boxing. In fact, when he was young, he loved wearing boxing gloves to box with his sons.Honours
- King George V Silver Jubilee MedalKing George V Silver Jubilee MedalThe King George V Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of King George V.-Issue:...
-1935 - King George VI Coronation MedalKing George VI Coronation MedalThe King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of...
-1937 - Queen Elizabeth II Coronation MedalQueen Elizabeth II Coronation MedalThe Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to...
-1953 - Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)-1957 (KCMG-1934)
- Darjah Mahkota negara-1958
- Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara-1958
- Darjah Kerabat Mahkota Brunei-1959
External links
- Malaysia National Library's Tuanku Abdul Rahman biography.
- Council of Rulers' Tuanku Abdul Rahman biography (in Malay).
- Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Malaysian Monarchy)