Ahmad Shah of Pahang

Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah ibni Sultan Abu Bakar Riayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah^[1] (born 24 October 1930 at Istana Mangga Tunggal, Pekan) was the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong (roughly equivalent to King) of Malaysia from 29 March 1979 to 25 April 1984, and fifth Sultan of modern Pahang.

Born Tengku Ahmad Shah, he was the only son of Sultan Sir Abu Bakar Riayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdullah Al-Mutassimu Billah Shah (reigned 1932-1974) by his official and royal consort, Tengku Ampuan Besar Fatimah binti Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Kadasallah Shah.

A student of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar, he received diplomas in public administration from Worcester College, Oxford and Exeter University. He succeeded his father as sultan in 1974.

His election as Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1979 was marked with controversy as he was said to be at odds with the incoming prime minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. However, the rumours proved to be untrue and he proved to be a keen admirer of the prime minister.

A controversial, headstrong personality, he has often forced his chief ministers to resign over minor differences.

His favourite hobby was playing football, golf, polo, and equestrian.

SultanAhmad Shahis a keen sportsman and President of the Malaysian Football Association

(FAM)^[2] and President of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) until 2002.

His official and royal consort, Tengku Ampuan Afzan binti Tengku Panglima Perang Muhammad, a member of the

Terengganu royal family, served as his Raja Permaisuri Agong but died of cancer on her return to Pahang on 29 June 1988. Sultan Ahmad Shah's junior wife Kalsom binti Abdullah (nee Anita), was designated as the Sultanah of Pahang in 1991.

Honours

As the Yang di-Peruan Agong from 1979 to 1984, Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah was automatically designated under constitutional provisions as the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces, holding the rank of theField Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, Admiral of the Royal Malaysian Navy and Field Marshal of the Army.^[3]

Notes

1. ^ Information Malaysia (1989), pg 123
2. ^ On the ball: Sultan Ahmad Shah's kindness taken as a weakness, Vijesh Rai, 2009/01/13, New Straits Times
3. ^ Alagappa, pg 267

References

• Coercion and Governance: The Declining Political Role of the Military in Asia, Muthiah Alagappa, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0804742278
• Information Malaysia, Published by Berita Publ. Sdn. Bhd., 1989
• The Europa Year Book, Europa Publications Limited, 1984, ISBN 0905118960

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