Biography.guide
Home › People › Sovereign › Ali Shah of Terenggnu
Portrait of Ali Shah of Terenggnu

Ali Shah of Terenggnu

1914 – 1996

Sultan of Terengganu

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Ali Shah of Terenggnu

Lived 1914 – 1996 (aged 82). Ali Shah of Terenggnu was a Malaysian sovereign.

Sultan Ali Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah (Jawi: ; 24 January 1914 – 17 May 1996) was the fifteenth Sultan of Terengganu. He was the son of the fourteenth sultan, Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah and the legitimate heir to the throne of Terengganu.

Sultan Sulaiman died on 25 September 1942 of blood poisoning. The Japanese Military Administration, which at that time occupied Malaya, proclaimed Sultan Ali as the Sultan of Terengganu.

On 18 October 1943, the Thai government under Prime Minister Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram took over the administration of Terengganu from the Japanese and continued to recognize Sultan Ali as the legitimate Sultan.

When the British returned after the end of World War II, they declined to recognize Sultan Ali. Allegedly, Sultan Ali was in too much debt and had been too close to the Japanese during their occupation. According to Sultan Ali, the British Military Administration wanted him removed for his refusal to sign the Malayan Union treaty.

The British Military Administration also disapproved of Sultan Ali's character, who was said to have repudiated his official consort Tengku Putri Hajjah ‘Ain ul-Jamal, Tengku Sri Nila Utama of Pahang (the daughter of Sultan Abu Bakar of Pahang) and had a second marriage with a former prostitute.

On 5 November 1945 the Terengganu State Council, which consisted thirteen members, announced the dismissal of Sultan Ali and the appointment of Tengku Ismail as the sixteenth Sultan of Terengganu. Tengku Ismail became known as Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin and was installed on 6 June 1949 at the Istana Maziah, Kuala Terengganu. Sultan Ismail's descendants have ruled Terengganu since.

Sultan Ali continued to dispute his dismissal until his death on 17 May 1996.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
Sultan of Terengganu
Also known as
Sultan Ali Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah

Family & relationships

Parent
Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah

People in Ali Shah of Terenggnu's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Ali Shah of Terenggnu's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Ali Shah of Terenggnu?

Sultan of Terengganu (1914–1996)

When was Ali Shah of Terenggnu born?

Ali Shah of Terenggnu was born on 24 January 1914 in Kuala Terengganu.

When did Ali Shah of Terenggnu die?

Ali Shah of Terenggnu died on 17 May 1996 in Kuala Terengganu.

What was Ali Shah of Terenggnu's occupation?

Ali Shah of Terenggnu was a sovereign.

What nationality was Ali Shah of Terenggnu?

Ali Shah of Terenggnu was Malaysian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Ali Shah of Terenggnu

· Wikidata: Q7636636

· DBpedia: Ali Shah of Terengganu

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ali Shah of Terenggnu. https://biography.guide/ali-shah-of-terenggnu/

MLA: "Ali Shah of Terenggnu." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ali-shah-of-terenggnu/.

Chicago: "Ali Shah of Terenggnu." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ali-shah-of-terenggnu/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:00 UTC