Last modified: 29 November 2020
The country
The state is formally known as Selangor Darul Ehsan, but usually called Selangor.
Selangor was ruled by the Sultanate of Malacca in the 15th century. After the fall of the Sultanate in 1511 not only the Portuguese, but also Johor, Aceh and Siam claimed the area. In 1641 the Dutch replaced the Portuguese in Malacca. The Sultanate of Selangor was established in 1740. The state had to accept a British Resident in 1874. In 1896 it became part of the Federated Malay States, in 1948 of the Federation of Malaya, and in 1963 of Malaysia.
Sovereign
The current sovereign is Sharaffudin Idris Shah, 9th Sultan of Selangor. He was born at the Istana Jema’ah, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia, on 24 December 1945. He had been appointed the Raja Muda on 3 September 1960, and was formally installed at the Istana Alam Shah, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia, on 14 March 1970. Regent of Selangor from 26 April 1999 to 21 November 2001.
He is the son of Salahuddin Abdul Aziz, 8th Sultan of Selangor (1926-2001) and his first wife Raja Saidatul Ihsan Tengku Badar Shah (1923-2011).
Enthronement
Sharaffudin Idris Shah succeeded his father after his death on 21 November 2001.
He was crowned at the Istana Alam Shah, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia, on 9 March 2003.
Other details
The Sultan is a Muslim.
Marriage and descendants
Sharaffudin Idris Shah has been married thrice. He married first in 1968, and divorced in 1986, Datin Paduka Raja Zarina binti Raja Tan Sri Zainal Abidin (born 1946).
Their children:
- Tengku Zerafina (born 1969). She is married since 2004 to Colin Salem Parbury.
- Tengku Zatashah (born 1973). She married in 2007 Aubry Rahim Mennesson (born 1972).
He married secondly in 1988, and divorced in 1997, Cik Puan Nur Lisa Idris binti Abdullah née Lisa Davis (born 1959).
Their children:
- Tengku Amir Shah (born 1990)
He married thirdly in 2016 Norashikin binti Abdul Rahman (born 1971), who is known as Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin.
Heir to the throne
The heir to the throne of Selangor is Tengku Amir Shah bin Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. He was born on 12 December 1990 at the Pacific Presbyterian Medical Center in San Francisco, California, USA. He was appointed the Raja Muda (heir apparent) on 3 May 2002. He was formally installed at Istana Alam Shah, Klang, Selangor, on 8 Octobr 2016.
Postal address
Istana Alam Shah
Klang
Selangor
Malaysia
Succession
Selangor is a hereditary constitutional monarchy. The Sultan shall be a person who is a Malay, of royal blood, a descendant of Selangor Sultan, a male and a Muslim. This also applies to an heir apparent and other heirs. The Sultan shall be a lawfully begotten and acknowledged descendant of the body and flesh and blood of Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah. The descendant who shall be eligible to become the sultan shall be a son, grandson, great-grandson and so on of the male line, first one generation after another until the last. A descendant shall not be eligible in case of a great and serious defect, derogatory to the quality of a Sultan, like insanity, blindness, dumbness or possessing some base qualities on account of which he wouldn’t be permitted to become a sultan. If the male descendants of the sultan should become totally extinct or be unworthy to rule, it shall be necessary to choose and appoint as sultan any person from among the male lineal descendants of Al-Marhum Sultan Alaiddin Sulaiman Shah, and if there aren’t any among the male lineal descendants of Al-Marhum Sultan Abdul Samad, otherwise of Al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Shah, Al-Marhum Sultan Ibrahim Shah or Al-Marhum Sultan Salehuddin. In case there are no descendants of any previous sultan left, the Dewan Di-Raja will choose and appoint a sultan. That person would have to be a male of mature age, sound mind, of the Malay race, and born in the State of Selangor, a Muslim, of good blood, and acknowledged to be legitimately and lawfully begotten, and able to read and write the Malay language, and of a good reputation.
In case a Sultan succeeds to the throne before becoming 21 years old, a regent or a council of regency consisting of no less than three members will be appointed for the period of his minority. They shall be of the Malay race and born in the State of Selangor, a Muslim, but not necessarily of royal blood. The Sultan shall be installed within four years from the date of his confirmation and proclamation as Sultan, or within such period from the date he reached majority. Before the installation he has to appoint his sonsort as Tengku Ampuan, as she shall be installed together with him. If there is no consort, the Sultan shall within the period marry a consort qualified to be appointed as the Tengku Ampuan. If he isn’t installed within four years he shal be deemed to have abdicated and relinquished his royal rights and powers. A sultan shall not be absent from Selangor for more than twelve months. If he does, a successor shall be chosen and appointed, unless he is holding the office as Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. The sultan may voluntarily abdicate and relinquish his rights and powers. If the throne of Selangor becomes vacant and there are no persons eligible to be confirmed as sultan, the Dewan Di-Raja will choose and appoint a sultan.
The heir to the throne shall be designated by the title of Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Selangor. The heir is chosen by the sultan after consultation with the Dewan Di-Raja. Also he shall not be absent from Selangor for more than twelve months. He also may voluntarily abdicate and relinquish his rights and powers.
The Dewan Di-Raja shall be summoned immediately after the death or abdication of the sultan. During that meeting the Dewan Di-Raja shall confirm the heir as sultan, unless they think he is unsuitable.
Titles
The sultan of Selangor is titled Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan dan Yang di-Pertuan Negara Selangor Dar ul- Ihsan, and styled His Royal Highness. His royal consort is Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tengku Ampuan, and styled His Royal Highness. His non-royal consort is Che’ Puan Besar. The heir apparent is titled Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Raja Muda Selangor Dar ul-Ihsan, and is styled His Highness. His royal consort is Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Raja Puan Muda Selangor Dar ul-Ihsan, and is styled Her Highness. His non-royal consort is Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Che’ Puan Muda Selangor Dar ul-Ihsan, and is styled Her Highness. The regent of Selangor is Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Pemangku Raja Selangor Dar ul-Ihsan, and is styled His Highness. The sons of a sultan are titled Yang Amat Mulia Tengku … (personal name) ibni … (father’s titles and name), and daughters are Yang Amat Mulia Tengku … (personal name) binti … (father’s titles and name). Grandsons of a sultan in male line are Yang Mulia Tengku … (personal name) bin Tengku … (father’s name), and granddaughters in male line are Yang Mulia Tengku … (personal name) binti … (father’s name). Junior wives of a sultan, heir apparent or other princes are Yang Mulia Che’ … (personal name) binti … (father’s title and name). Other male members of the family in male line are Yang Mulia Raja … (personal name) bin Raja … (father’s name), and female members of the family in male line are Yang Mulia Raja … (personal name) binti Raja … (father’s name). The senior male members of the Royal family usually receive a princely title of honour, in addition to those by right of birth.
The Sultans of Selangor
| Sallehuddin Shah (1705-1778) | 1742-1778 |
| Ibrahim Shah | 1778-1826 |
| Muhammad Shah (-1857) | 1826-1857 |
| Abdul Samad (1804-1898) | 1857-1898 |
| Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah (1863-1938) | 1898-1938 |
| Hisamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj (1898-1960) | 1938-1942; 1945-1960 |
| Musa Ghiatuddin Riayat Shah (1893-1955) | 1942-1945 |
| Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj (1926-2001) | 1960-2001 |
| Sharafuddin Idris Shah Al-Haj (1980- ) | 2001- |