Azlan Shah I of Perak

Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuff Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-lah (Jawi: ; 19 April 1928 – 28 May 2014) was Sultan of Perak from 1984 until his death in 2014, the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia), from 1989 to 1994, and the 5th Lord President of the Supreme Court, from 1982 to 1984.

The child of a royal father and a commoner mother, he grew up in Perak, Malaysia. During school he played field hockey, subsequently playing for the Perakian team. He trained to be a lawyer in the United Kingdom. Upon returning to Malaysia, he soon became a judge and quickly rose through the legal ranks. In 1965, he became the youngest person appointed to the High Court of Malaya, and in 1982 he became the youngest ever Lord President of the Federal Court, the country's highest judicial rank.

He became Sultan of Perak in 1984 after the death of his first cousin once removed Sultan Idris Shah II. Subsequently, he was elected to be the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1989, serving a five-year term before returning to his post as Sultan of Perak. In 2009, he exercised his royal authority to prevent the dissolution of the Perak State Legislative Assembly, sparking a constitutional crisis. Ultimately, the legal system ruled that Sultan Azlan had acted properly.

During his career, Sultan Azlan Shah was awarded more than three dozen Malaysian and foreign honours. Dozens of buildings and other projects were named after him, including a genus of insects: Azlania. He was known as the "Father of Malaysian Hockey" for furthering field hockey at home and abroad and was the patron of dozens of organisations. With his wife Tuanku Bainun Binti Mohd Ali, Sultan Azlan had five children.

Early life and education He was born on 19 April 1928 at Kampung Manggis, Batu Gajah, Perak. The youngest son of Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah by his second wife, Toh Puan Besar Hatijah binti Toh Indera Wangsa Ahmad (1906–1992), he was brought up by his mother outside of royal circles.

Raja Azlan Shah began his education at the Government English School, Batu Gajah Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Yussuf. For his secondary education, he attended Malay College Kuala Kangsar. Afterwards, he went to the University of Nottingham to study law, earning a Bachelor of Law degree in 1953.

In 1965, Raja Azlan Shah, aged 37, became the youngest judge ever appointed to the High Court of Malaya. He was appointed to the Federal Court in 1973. In 1979, he was appointed Chief Justice of the High Court of Malaya.

The decision was challenged and the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that the Sultan was not constitutionally permitted to dismiss the menteri besar. However, upon appeal, the decision was reversed by the Court of Appeal which ruled that the Perak State Constitution gives absolute discretionary power for the Sultan to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly. The Court also directed Nizar to resign. The decision was subsequently upheld unanimously by the five-man Bench of the Federal Court in February 2010. Azlan was President of the Malaysian Hockey Federation until 2005, and was the elected President of the Asian Hockey Federation from 1997 until his death. He was an Executive Board member of the International Hockey Federation, serving as vice-president for two terms starting in 1992. Under Azlan Shah's leadership, Malaysia twice hosted the World Cup, in 1975 and 2002. In 1983, the sultan founded the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, an annual hockey tournament played in Ipoh. Upon his death, a public holiday was announced in the state of Perak for 29 May so that the population could pay their last respects to him at Kuala Kangsar. Menteri Besar of Perak Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir announced that the Malaysian flag would fly at half-mast for 7 days, and the Perakian flag for 100 days. In addition, "all entertainment and celebrations" were cancelled to show respect for the Sultan.

Malaysian honours

State honours

Foreign honours

Collar of Badr Chain (7.12.1991)

Things named after him Educational institutions SMK Sultan Azlan Shah, a secondary school in Lenggong, Perak SMK Agama Sultan Azlan Shah, a secondary school in Seri Iskandar, Perak Sekolah Menengah Sains Raja Tun Azlan Shah, a secondary school in Taiping, Perak Kolej Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu Sultan Azlan Shah, Ulu Kinta, Perak Kampus Sultan Azlan Shah, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Proton City, Tanjung Malim, Perak Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah, Behrang, Perak Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah, Kuala Kangsar, Perak Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Sultan Azlan Shah, in Kuala Kangsar, Perak

Buildings Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery, a royal gallery in Kuala Kangsar, Perak Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, Ipoh, Perak Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium, Ipoh, Perak Sultan Azlan Shah Building, a Chancellery of the Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur Sultan Azlan Shah Mosque, a mosque in Ipoh, Perak Muhibbuddin Shah Mosque, a mosque in Ipoh, Perak Sultan Azlan Shah Power Station, a power station in Manjung, Perak

Roads Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, a major roads in Ipoh (formerly Tiger Lane), George Town, Penang and Kuala Lumpur (formerly Jalan Ipoh). Sultan Azlan Shah Bridge a bridge at the North–South Expressway Northern Route

Others Taman Rekreasi Sultan Azlan Shah (formerly Taman Polo), a recreational area in Ipoh Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, an international hockey tournament At the 1982 Perak Domestic Tourism Exposition, the orchid that won the best plant award was named after Azlan Shah, "Doritinopsis Sultan Azlan Shah". The insect genus Azlania was named in honour of him by The Malaysia Nature Society.