Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim

Early life and education

Tunku Ismail completed his early education at Sekolah Sri Utama and Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan St. Joseph in Johor Bahru. He subsequently received lower secondary education at the Australian International School in Singapore and pursued his higher secondary studies at Hale School in Perth, Western Australia, until 2002. Tunku Ismail is the eldest among six siblings. Tunku Ismail has no academic background.

Career and interests

Following a family tradition of getting trained in armed forces, with his late grandfather in the Malaysian Army and father in the US Army, Tunku Ismail aspired for a career in the Indian armed forces. In July 2003, he enrolled as a cadet officer in the Indian Military Academy, India’s premier military training school located at Dehradun. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in December 2004 and absorbed into the Indian army. He was promoted to the rank of captain in December 2007. He is the first ever Malaysian royal to join the Indian armed forces.

The Malaysian prince is the first foreigner to lead a unit of Indian Army in the Indian Republic Day Parade. On 26 January 2007, with a rank of captain in Indian Army, he led a mounted column of Jaipur-based 61 Cavalry regiment to salute president of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam during the Republic Day celebrations. The president himself chose Tunku Ismail to lead the unit of around 400 men of the world's only non-ceremonial horse-mounted cavalry. The parade was witnessed by chief guest of the day president of Russia Vladimir Putin and his entourage, along with other dignitaries of Indian politics and military amidst tight security. Tunku Ismail's father Tunku Ibrahim Ismail flew in from Johor Bahru on 23 January 2007 to be present at the celebrations while his son added a chapter to the history of Indian Army.

A polo enthusiast, Tunku Ismail is a skilful horse rider. He was bestowed the Best in Riding award among IMA cadets between 2003 and 2004. He is also a polo player for his regiment and has won many trophies. In football, he is the president of Johor FC.

The prince is also a sports car enthusiast. All of his cars are registered under the same licence plate of "TMJ", an abbreviation from the title Tunku Mahkota Johor which is also his nickname as addressed informally by Malaysians both inside Johor and out.

He is noted for his religious moderation and veiled criticism of more conservative Muslims who denounced him for shaking hands with women in 2016.

As President of Johor Football Association

His Highness the Tunku Mahkota (Crown Prince) of Johor, Tunku Ismail Idris ibni Sultan Ibrahim is appointed as the new President of Johor Football Association (PBNJ). In the EGM held in Johor Bahru saw the Crown Prince appointed as the new President replacing the former, Jais Sarday. In his speech, the Crown Prince stated that in the next season of Malaysian Prime League, the State of Johor which currently has three teams, Johor FC, MBJB and MP Muar will be reduce to only one, where all of the players will wear the Jengking (Scorpion) Team Jersey. It is among the suggestions to help bring back Johorean football to its former glory.

Tunku Ismail's leadership on the club Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C also oversaw its success as the first Southeast Asian club to lift the AFC Cup in 2015.

As FAM Presidential Advisor

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have appointed the Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim as an advisor to the current FAM president, his uncle, the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah. Tunku Ismail will assist and work hand in hand with FAM in improving the quality of football within the country, particularly with the national team as well as the junior teams.

As predicted, there were several concerns about this news, particularly with Tunku Ismail having lost the FAM presidency election to Tengku Abdullah earlier this year. Besides that, he has also been extremely vocal with his criticisms on the nation’s footballing body. However, the Johor FA president is extremely optimistic about his new role, claiming that he will only be pushing for the betterment of football within the country.

Speaking to reporters, Tunku Ismail said: "There needs to be a fundamental prioritization on team discipline, vision and mission for the national football team. But besides that, we also need to focus on strengthening the local leagues, which will inadvertently assist the national team as well. I would love to see the local football scene do well on all fronts, not only in terms of improving the league quality, but also the achievements of our national team. But at the same time, I also know that it can’t be achieved within a short space of time. However, if we take the necessary steps and focus on development carefully, things will improve drastically in the next few years."

Titles and styles

Honours

Tunku Ismail was conferred with the following royal honours:

Honours of Johor

Alleged assault

On 24 October 2008, reports surfaced about a confrontation and a royal scuffle which allegedly occurred in a nightclub at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Kuala Lumpur between two princes. Tunku Nadzimuddin, a member of the Negeri Sembilan household, filed a police report accusing of a Johor royal whom he identified the culprit to be Tunku Ismail; for initiating the confrontation and assaulting him in the face and head. A friend of Tunku Nadzimuddin, Shamshudhuha Ishak, a lawyer, filed another police report accusing of Tunku Ismail's bodyguards of assaulting him and losing two teeth in the process.

The following September, Tunku Nadzimuddin lodged a complaint against the police and the Attorney-General chambers for not responding to the police report that he had made earlier for a RM50 million monetary settlement over the alleged episode. In a press interview, Tunku Nadzimuddin claimed that he was roughed up by Tunku Ismail and his bodyguards after the a friend of Tunku Ismail called Tunku Nadzimuddin that he had wanted to apologise over a bottle-throwing incident, while Tunku Nadzimuddin was partying. Tunku Nadzimuddin looked for Tunku Ismail with Shamshudhuha, but they quickly assaulted by Tunku Ismail's bodyguards. Shamshudhuha was beaten unconscious, while Tunku Nadzimuddin was threatened by Tunku Ismail with a pistol pointing to his head, and led to a hotel room where they were confined. The police later arrived after Tunku Nadzimuddin called for his mother. The Johor royalty denied Tunku Nadzimuddin's claims, and stated that Tunku Ismail was barred from meeting Tunku Nadzimuddin that night for security reasons.

Marriage

On 24 October 2014, Tunku Ismail married 21-year-old Che Puan Khaleeda Bustamam at Istana Bukit Serene in a private ceremony. The solemnisation ceremony was performed by Johor mufti Datuk Mohd Tahrir Samsudin. The royal wedding took place at Dataran Bandaraya (or 'City Square') on November 2014.

Khaleeda, daughter of Bustaman Daud and Aziyah Abdul Aziz, is the youngest of five siblings and was born in Kuala Lumpur.

The couple's first child, a Princess, Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Khalsom Aminah Sofiah was born on 25 June 2016. 5 Ogos 2017 Their second child baby boy or girl in Aprl 2018.

Children and their date of birth