Muhammad V of Kelantan

Early life and regency

Born Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra ibni Sultan Ismail Petra in Kota Bharu, he was made Crown Prince (Tengku Mahkota) in October 1985. He attended St Cross College, Oxford and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies for diplomatic studies, graduating in 1991.

Succession crisis

In May 2009, his father, Sultan Ismail Petra, suffered a major stroke. Sultan Ismail Petra was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore and Faris was appointed Regent on 25 May in the Sultan's absence. On 16 September 2009, Faris dismissed his younger brother, the Tengku Temenggong of Kelantan, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra, from the Succession Council, which has the power to determine succession to the throne should the Sultan be permanently incapacitated.

Fakhry filed an application at the High Court challenging his dismissal in December, and issued a letter to the state secretary purportedly from the Sultan reversing all actions and decisions made by the Regent, Faris. In January 2010, the High Court rejected Fakhry's application.

In another twist, Sultan Ismail Petra's private secretary "declared" Succession Council chairman Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Mohd Hamzah as Regent. The appointment was challenged by Faris in court.

Sultan of Kelantan

On 13 September 2010, Muhammad Faris Petra was proclaimed the 29th Sultan of Kelantan, in accordance with Article 29A of the State Constitution which states that a Sultan can no longer be king if he is not viable to rule for a period of more than a year. He took the regnal name Muhammad V. However, his father, Sultan Ismail Petra, has petitioned the Federal Court to declare his appointment unconstitutional. Sultan Ismail Petra is still recovering from the stroke he suffered in 2009.

Muhammad V attended the 222nd Meeting of the Conference of Rulers for the first time as a full member in October 2010. This marked the recognition of his accession as Sultan by other rulers.

Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Sultan Muhammad V was elected Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong in October 2011. He served in that post from 13 December 2011 until his election as Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 13 December 2016.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Sultan Muhammad V was elected by the Conference of Rulers on 14 October 2016 to become the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state of Malaysia. His reign began on 13 December 2016, taking over from Abdul Halim, the Sultan of Kedah. Sultan Muhammad V was installed as the fifteenth Yang Di Pertuan Agong of Malaysia on 24 April 2017 in a ceremony held at the Istana Negara, Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur. At 47, Sultan Muhammad V is the fourth youngest Yang di-Pertuan Agong to be elected, after Putra of Perlis, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu and Tuanku Abdul Halim of Kedah.

As a divorcee, he is the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong in Malaysian history to reign without a Raja Permaisuri Agong.

His younger brother, Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra, the Tengku Mahkota, will serve as Regent of Kelantan throughout Sultan Muhammad V's tenure as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

As Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he holds full responsibility as Commander-in-Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces. He also holds the full responsibility as the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Artillery Regiment, Malaysian Army, and thus attends all its activities and ceremonial occasions.

Titles and styles

Honours

He has been awarded:

Honours of Kelantan

As Sultan of Kelantan (since 13 September 2010):

Honours of Malaysia and its other states