Yahya Petra of Kelantan

Yahya Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim (Jawi: ; 10 December 1917 – 29 March 1979) was the 27th sultan of Kelantan from 1960, and the sixth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the constitutional monarch of Malaysia, from 1975, until his death in 1979.

Early life

He was born on 10 December 1917, as Tengku Yahya Petra at the Istana Balai Besar in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. He was the second son of Sultan Ibrahim (b. 1897; ) by his third wife, Cik Embong binti Encik Daud (1899–1971).

Tengku Yahya Petra was raised by his childless uncle, Tengku Ismail (later Sultan Ismail). He was sent to the Francis Light School in Penang before continuing his studies in England. His uncle, Sultan Ismail, appointed him Tengku Temenggong Kelantan on 21 July 1939. He was later promoted to Tengku Bendahara Kelantan on 6 February 1945 by his father, Sultan Ibrahim. He served in various Kelantan civil service posts from 1941 to 1948.

Kelantan succession dispute Tengku Indra Petra was the eldest son of Sultan Ibrahim and elder brother of Sultan Yahya Petra. After Sultan Ibrahim succeeded his brother Sultan Ismail, Tengku Indra Petra was appointed heir apparent with the title of Raja Muda Kelantan on 25 October 1944. However, due to conflict with his father, he was dismissed from the post and removed from the line of succession by his father's decree on 1 February 1948. On the same day, Sultan Yahya Petra replaced his brother as heir apparent with the new title of Tengku Mahkota Kelantan.

Tengku Indra Petra became a politician and was elected a Member of Parliament in the 1955 Malayan general election. Tengku Indra's descendants have since disputed their family's exclusion from Kelantan's line of succession.

Tengku Indra Petra did not preside over the installation of Sultan Yahya Petra's successor, Sultan Ismail Petra, It was Tengku Panglima Raja Tengku Ahmad (the father of the former Sultanah of Johor, Sultanah Zanariah binti Tengku Ahmad) who presided over the installations of Sultan Yahya Petra and Sultan Ismail Petra.

Accession Sultan Yahya Petra (as he became) succeeded his father a day after the latter's death on 9 July 1960. He was crowned on 17 July 1961 at Istana Balai Besar in Kota Bharu.

Election as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Yahya Petra served as the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the federal deputy king, between 21 September 1970 and 20 September 1975.

Election as Yang di-Pertuan Agong During the election of the sixth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia), the most senior ruler Sultan Ismail of Johor declined to be considered. Sultan Yahya Petra also declined nomination at first due to having suffered a serious stroke, but changed his mind and was duly elected. His term began from 21 September 1975.

Kingship Malaysia's second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein died on 14 January 1976 less than four months into Sultan Yahya Petra's reign as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

In 1977 a state of emergency was declared in his own state following a political crisis and violence.

Death and funeral Sultan Yahya Petra died of an apparent heart attack at 3:45 pm at the National Palace on 29 March 1979. His coffin lay in state at the National Palace for a day and was then taken by plane to Kota Bharu where it was buried at the Kelantan Royal Mausoleum.

Family life He married Tengku Zainab binti Tengku Sri Utama Raja Tengku Muhammad Petra (1917–1993), who was styled Raja Perempuan Zainab II (her stepmother-in-law was Raja Perempuan Zainab I, consort of Sultan Ibrahim) and Raja Permaisuri Agong on 4 June 1939. Sultan Yahya Petra and Raja Perempuan Zainab II had one son and six daughters. However, two of their daughters died when they were young. He was also married to Tengku Alexandria binti Tengku Yusof and was given a son and two daughters.

Issue

Name Birth Date Birth Place Death Date Death Place Marriage Date Spouse Their children Their grandchildren Tengku Merjan Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, Kota Bharu, Kelantan 22 January 1960 Tengku Abdul Aziz bin Tengku Muhammad Hamzah Tengku Mohamad RizamTengku RamizanTengku Mohamad RizalTengku Mohamad Ridzman nine grandchildren Tengku Rozan 23 April 1969- Divorced Tengku Mohamed Nasrun bin Tengku Yusof Tengku Rozanna PetriTengku Rozlynda Petri three grandchildren Tengku Salwani Istana Batu, Kota Bharu, Kelantan Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, Kota Bharu, Kelantan 20 October 1966- Divorced Raja Aman Shah bin Raja Shahar Shah Raja Amir Saifuddin Shah Tengku Rohani Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, Kota Bharu, Kelantan Tengku Ismail Petra Istana Jahar, Kota Bharu, Kelantan Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, Kota Bharu, Kelantan 4 December 1968 Tengku Anis binti Tengku Abdul Hamid Tengku Muhammad Faris PetraTengku Muhammad Faiz Petra Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra Tengku Amalin A’ishah Putri five grandchildren Tengku Mohamed 1967 Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, Kota Bharu, Kelantan unknown unknown four children unknown Tengku Maziah unknown Azman bin Ismail two children unknown Tengku Zubaidah unknown Nordin bin Talib unknown unknown

Awards and recognitions Sultan Yahya Petra held the rank of Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Honours of Kelantan

50px Knight Grand Commander (SPMK, 9 August 1950) and Grand Master (1960–1979) of the Order of the Crown of Kelantan or "Star of Muhammad" 50px Knight Grand Commander (SJMK, 9 August 1959) and Grand Master (1960–1979) of the Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan or "Star of Ismail"

Honours of Malaysia

Grand Master (1975–1979) of the Order of the Defender of the Realm

Foreign

Places named after him

Several places were named after him, including: Petra Jaya, a suburb in Kuching, Sarawak Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, Kuala Lumpur (formerly Jalan Semarak/Jalan Henry Gurney) Jalan Tuanku Yahya Petra, the main road on Penang Hill Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra in Kota Bharu, Kelantan Sultan Yahya Petra Mosque in Machang, Kelantan SK Sultan Yahya Petra (1), a primary school in Kuala Krai, Kelantan SK Sultan Yahya Petra (2), a primary school in Kuala Krai, Kelantan SMK Sultan Yahya Petra 1, a secondary school in Kuala Krai, Kelantan SMK Sultan Yahya Petra 2, a secondary school in Kuala Krai, Kelantan Sultan Yahya Petra Bridge in Kota Bharu, Kelantan Sultan Yahya Petra Second Bridge in Kota Bharu, Kelantan