Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah ascended to the throne of Perak on 29 May 2014, marking the first father-son inheritance in the state for nearly a century. Born in George Town on 27 November 1956, he has since served as a significant national figure, holding the position of Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia since 2016.
Academic Background
Nazrin Shah completed his early schooling in Kuala Lumpur before attending The Leys School in Cambridge, UK. He holds a B.A. in philosophy, politics, and economics from Worcester College, Oxford. His postgraduate studies took place at Harvard University, where he earned an M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Ph.D. in political economy and government. His research focus encompasses economic development in Asia and national income accounting.
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In the Perak succession, the crown does not follow strict agnatic primogeniture. Nazrin Shah was proclaimed Raja Kechil Besar in 1984 and later became the Raja Muda of Perak on 15 April 1987. He served as Regent of Perak twice, first during his father’s tenure as the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1989 to 1994, and again from 2008 to 2014, preceding his formal accession as the 35th Sultan.
National Roles
As Sultan of Perak, he serves as Chancellor of Universiti Malaya and chairs the Board of Governors of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar. His national duties include three terms as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong, serving under three different monarchs. On multiple occasions, including in 2018 and 2019, he acted as the country's head of state due to medical leave or royal abdication.
Personal Life
He married Tuanku Zara Salim Davidson on 17 May 2007 at the Istana Iskandariah. The couple has two children, Raja Azlan Muzzaffar Shah, born in 2008, and Raja Nazira Safya, born in 2011. He is the eldest child of Sultan Azlan Shah and Raja Permaisuri Tuanku Bainun.
Fast facts
- Born: 27 November 1956, George Town
- Accession: 29 May 2014
- Spouse: Tuanku Zara Salim Davidson
- Education: Worcester College, Oxford; Harvard University
- Positions: Sultan of Perak, Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong
- Religion: Islam
Questions readers ask
What is the Sultan's role in the Malaysian government?
He acts as the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong and performs the functions of the King when the monarch is absent or the position is vacant.
Does the Sultan of Perak inherit the throne through primogeniture?
No, the Perak Sultanate utilizes a hierarchy system where the Sultan appoints princes to vacant ranks, rather than following strict agnatic primogeniture.
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