Sharafuddin of Selangor

Early life and education

Born On 11 December 1945, at Istana Jema'ah, Klang, as the first son of the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Selangor, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah and his first wife, Raja Saidatul Ihsan Tengku Badar Shah (born. 1923–2011). His father was the eldest son of Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah and Raja Jemaah Raja Ahmad, who became the second Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia. His mother was a grandchild of both Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah and Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah of Perak. As such, his parents were first cousins. He was named Tengku Idris Shah at birth.

He began his education at Malay Primary School, Kuala Lumpur, aged nine, before attending St. John's Institution until 1959.

In 1960, his father became the Sultan of Selangor, becoming Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah. That same year, Tengku Idris, 15, was proclaimed the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Selangor; his formal installation occurred ten years later. He was sent abroad to continue his education, attending the Hale School in Perth, Australia, from 1960 and later Langhurst College in Surrey, United Kingdom, from 1964.

After returning from the United Kingdom, Tengku Idris joined the government service, and was attached to the Selangor State Secretariat under the administration of Menteri Besar Harun Idris. He served in the Kuala Lumpur District Office and police department.

On 24 April 1999, he was appointed Regent of Selangor after his father became the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Sultan of Selangor

On 22 November 2001, Tengku Idris was proclaimed Sultan of Selangor, succeeding his father, who died after only two years as Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He took the regnal name Sharafuddin (connoting 'religious enlightenment' in Arabic), and is styled as Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. His formal coronation took place on 9 March 2003 at Istana Alam Shah, Klang.

As Sultan, he is known to have revoked state awards conferred by him or by his father. In 2007, he revoked the Datuk title of a businessman who pleaded guilty for financial fraud. He has also suspended others who have been charged in court for various misdealings or faced bankruptcy. In 2011, he suspended the datukship of former transport minister Chan Kong Choy in relation to the latter being charged in court over the Port Klang Free Zone scandal.

The 2008 general election saw sweeping political change in Selangor. For the first time, Barisan Nasional (BN) did not win control of the state assembly. Sharafuddin presided over the swearing-in of the first non-BN Menteri Besar of Selangor.

In May 2009, he underwent a ten-hour open heart surgery at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, California.

In early 2011, he became embroiled in a crisis over the appointment of the state secretary, the state's highest-ranking civil servant. The federal government appointed Mohd Khusrin Munawi to the position, which was consented to by Sharafuddin. However, the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government opposed the appointment. The state government eventually relented, and Khusrin assumed his duties in February 2011.

Marriages and children

Sharafuddin married thrice.

In 1968, as Tengku Idris, he married Raja Zarina Raja Tan Sri Zainal. The marriage ended in divorce in 1986. Sharafuddin and Raja Zarina have two children:

In 1988, Tengku Idris married American-born Nur Lisa Idris Abdullah (née Lisa Davi). They divorced in 1997 and have one child:

In August 2016, Tengku Idris married television personality Norashikin Abdul Rahman. The solemnisation ceremony was performed by Selangor Mufti Datuk Mohd Tamyes Abd Wahid at Masjid Istana Diraja in Istana Alam Shah, Klang and were witnessed by Selangor deputy mufti Dr Anhar Opir, Imam Mohd Rasid Mahful, former deputy mufti of Selangor Datuk Abdul Majid Omar and Selangor Islamic Religious Council member Datuk Salehuddin Saidin.

Interests

Sharafuddin is known for being adventurous, having circumnavigated the world and scaled a mountain. At 30, he climbed Mount Kinabalu.

Prior to becoming Sultan, Sharafuddin was an avid sailor. In 1995, he circumnavigated his yacht, SY Jugra, around the world. The journey took 22 months. He sold the yacht before becoming Sultan. The Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta, a major annual sailing event, is named after him.

He has also taken part in rallies and long distance car races. He joined and completed the 1997 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge in his 1932 Ford Model B. He covered 16,000 km in 43 days, winning the silver medal in the vintage car category. In 1986, he drove a Proton Saga from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching, covering 1,111 km in two days.

Titles and styles

Sharafuddin's full style and title is: Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj, Sultan dan Yang di-Pertuan Selangor Darul Ehsan Serta Segala Daerah Takluknya.

Or in English: His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj, The Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Selangor Darul Ehsan and its Sovereign Dependencies

Honours

In March 2001, he received an honorary degree from Universiti Teknologi MARA.

He is an Honorary Life President of the Football Association of Selangor.

He has been awarded :

Honours of Selangor

Honours of Malaysia

Foreign Honours