Jaafar of Negeri Sembilan

Tuanku Jaafar
Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan
Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia
Reign	26 April 1994 – 25 April 1999
Installation	22 September 1994
Predecessor	Azlan Shah of Perak
Successor	Salahuddin of Selangor
Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan
Reign	18 April 1967 – 27 December 2008
Installation	8 April 1968
Predecessor	Tuanku Munawir
Successor	Tuanku Muhriz
Born	(1922-07-19)19 July 1922 Klang, Selangor, Federated Malay States, British Malaya
Died	Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Burial	29 December 2008 Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum, Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Spouse	Tuanku Najihah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin
Issue	Tunku Naquiah Tunku Naquiyuddin Tunku Muda Serting Imran Tunku Jawahir Tunku Irinah Tunku Putra Nazaruddin
Father	Tuanku Abdul Rahman Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Muhammad
Mother	Che' Engku Maimuna binti Abdullah
Religion	Sunni Islam

Negeri Sembilan Royal Family
HRH Tuanku Muhriz, The Yang di-Pertuan Besar HRH Tuanku Aishah Rohani, Tunku Ampuan Besar HH Tunku Ali Redhauddin, Tunku Besar Sri Menanti HH Tunku Zain Al'Abidin Muhriz's sisters Yang di-Pertuan Besar's sisters: HH Tunku Anne Dakhlah Abdul Malik Siti Mazeera Shazmi Izzam Siti Mazlina Siti Mazlynda HH Tunku Deborah Ahmad Fuad HH Tunku Deannah Tengku Amran of Jelebu Tengku Amera Nafisah of Jelebu Tengku Nadia Azrina of Jelebu Tengku Dahira Azirah of Jelebu Jaafar's family HRH Tuanku Najihah, Jaafar's widow HH Tunku Naquiyuddin, Tunku Laksamana HH Tunku Nurul Hayati of Kedah, Tunku Puan Muda Tunku Mohamed Alauddin Putri Badrinise Tunku Alayna Putri Tunku Khair ul-Zaim Tunku Alia Nadira Tunku Nadia Sahiya HH Tunku Imran, Tunku Muda Serting Mahirah Tunku Khairil Imran Tunku Tarrant Tunku Abdul Rahman Aminu'llah HH Tunku Nazaruddin, Tunku Panglima Besar Tunku Mimi Wahida Tunku Muhammad Hazim Shah Raden Tunku Muhammad Mish’al Raden Tunku Ines Najiha Raden HH Tunku Naquiah, Tunku Dara HH Tunku Muzaffar, Tunku Kechil Besar HH Tunku Jawahir, Tunku Putri HH Tengku Azlan of Pahang Tengku Aslahuddin Jaafar of Pahang Sofia Tengku Muhammad Ayden Saladin of Pahang Tengku Azran of Pahang HH Tunku Irinah, Tengku Puan Indira Setia HH Tengku Ahmad Shah of Selangor, Tengku Indira Setia Tengku Alam Shah Amiruddin of Selangor Tengku Aiman Shahirah of Selangor

Tuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, GCB (19 July 1922 – 27 December 2008) was the tenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (equivalent to King) of Malaysia from 26 April 1994 until 25 April 1999 and the fourth Yang di-Pertuan Besar of modern Negeri Sembilan.

Early life and education

The second son of Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad, he was the first of four children by his commoner wife, Eurasian nurse Dulcie Campbell or better known as Che' Engku Maimunah binti Abdullah. The couple subsequently divorced.

Having studied at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar, he graduated from the University of Nottingham before attending Balliol College, Oxford and the LSE. Tunku Ja'afar then joined the civil and diplomatic service of the Malaysia.

Early career

State Officer

During the Japanese occupation of Malaya, Tuanku Ja'afar served at the Land Office of Seremban and as District Officer of Rembau from 1946 to 1947. Upon his return from the United Kingdom in 1952, Tuanku Ja'afar held several posts in the civil service including Assistant State Secretary of Perak, Assistant District Officer of Parit, Perak, and District Officer of Tampin.

Diplomat

Tuanku Ja'afar's diplomatic career began in 1957. He took up a special course for diplomatic services in London for one year. His first appointment was as Charge d' Affaires in Washington D.C., United States of America followed by First Secretary with the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, Consular and Deputy High Commissioner at the High Commission of Malaya in London. Tuanku Ja'afar was later appointed as the Malaysian Ambassador to Egypt and then as High Commissioner to Nigeria and Ghana.

Yang di-Pertuan Besar

Tuanku Ja'afar was to have left for Japan to serve as the Malaysian Ambassador to that country but was recalled by the State Government of Negeri Sembilan following the demise of his half brother HRH Tuanku Munawir, the then ruler of Negeri Sembilan, in 1967.

All four Undang (Territorial Chiefs) had unanimously elected Tuanku Ja'afar as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan to succeed HRH Tuanku Munawir. The election was controversial as the heir presumptive to the throne, Tuanku Munawir's son Tunku Muhriz was by-passed. It has been suggested that the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, instructed the council not to choose Tunku Muhriz on account of his youth (he was then eighteen).

Tuanku Ja'afar ascended the throne as the 10th Ruler of Negeri Sembilan on 18 April 1967.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Tuanku Ja'afar was the tenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia from 26 April 1994 until 25 April 1999 succeeding Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak.

Malaysia achieved many milestones while he was the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, among them Malaysia's successful hosting of the 16th Commonwealth Games and APEC Summit, both in 1998. He also worked on Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, the Petronas Twin Towers, the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) and the new administrative capital of Putrajaya.

Personal life

Tuanku Ja'afar married Tuanku Najihah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin of Negeri Sembilan who also served as his Raja Permaisuri Agong between 1994 and 1999. The royal couple are blessed with three sons and three daughters whose names are:-

Son

• Tunku Naquiyuddin ibni Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar
• Tunku Imran ibni Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar
• Tunku Putra Nazaruddin ibni Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar

Daughter

• Tunku Naquiah binti Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar
• Tunku Jawahir binti Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar
• Tunku Irinah binti Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar

Tuanku Ja' afar is also the first reigning royalty in Malaysia to have a judgement made against him in a court of law.

Contributions

During his reign as the ruler of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Ja'afar focused his attention on the problems of the people and the administration of the state. In handling the socio-economic affairs of the state, Tuanku Ja'afar directed his attention to the industry and public housing sectors so as to improve the living standard of the people. As a result, several new housing areas were developed among which is Taman Tuanku Ja'afar which includes an industrial area and a golf course of international standard, Taman Tuanku Ampuan Najihah in Sungai Gadut and the Mambau housing project.

Education

Tuanku Ja'afar became the Chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on 16 April 1976. Tuanku Ja'afar had always urged for the improvement of the standard of education in Malaysia. He was awarded Honorary Doctorate of Law by several universities namely the University of the Philippines (27 July 1990), University of Nottingham (21 July 1995), University of Santiago, Chile (28 September 1995) and University of Brunei Darussalam (11 September 1996).

Personal Interests

Tuanku Ja'afar and the royal family of Negeri Sembilan are known as the "Royal Family of Sports". He and his family have shown great interest in cricket, tennis, badminton, squash, hockey and golf within and outside Malaysia. His son HH Tunku Imran has been the President of World Squash for seven years.

As a golf enthusiast, Tuanku Ja'afar was a regular participant in golf tournaments within and outside the country. He has also improved the standard of sports in Negeri Sembilan by upgrading the golf courses and facilities especially those of the International Golf Club of Seremban. Tuanku Ja'afar also participates in the annual Malaysian Open Golf Pro-Am from the time it was first held.

Death

Tuanku Ja'afar died on 27 December 2008 at Hospital Tuanku Jaafar, Seremban. His younger brother, Tunku Panglima Besar Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah had died four months earlier. Before Tuanku Ja'afar's death, he was admitted to the hospital after feeling dizziness. He was buried at the Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum at Seri Menanti on 29 December 2008.

Honours

Tuanku Ja'afar Royal Gallery

Tuanku Ja'afar held the rank of Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Honours of Negeri Sembilan

As Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan (8 April 1967 – 27 December 2008), he was:

• Founding Grand Master and Member of the Royal Family Order of Negeri Sembilan (DKNS, 24 May 1979 – 27 December 2008)
• Founding Grand Master of the Order of Negeri Sembilan (24 May 1979 – 27 December 2008)
• 50px Founding Grand Master of the Royal Family Order of Yam Tuan Radin Sunnah (24 May 1979 – 27 December 2008)
• Founding Grand Master of the Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (24 May 1979 – 27 December 2008)
• 50px Founding Grand Master of the Grand Order of Tuanku Ja'afar (Negeri Sembilan) (18 July 1984 – 27 December 2008)

Honours of Malaysia

• Malaysia (as Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia from 26 April 1994 to 25 April 1999) :
  • Recipient & Grand Master of Order of the Royal House of Malaysia (DKM, 27 May 1994)
  • Grand Master of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (earlier recipient 3 April 1968)
  • Grand Master of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (earlier Grand Commander)
  • Grand Master of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia
  • Grand Master of the Order of Merit of Malaysia
  • 50px Founding Grand Master of the Order for Important Services (Malaysia) (2 May 1995 – 21 November 2001)
  • Grand Master of the Order of the Royal Household of Malaysia
• Johor :
  • First Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I)
• Kedah :
  • Member of the Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK)
• Kelantan :
  • Recipient of the Royal Family Order or Star of Yunus (DK)
• Pahang :
  • Member 1st class of the Family Order of the Crown of Indra of Pahang (DK I)
• Perak :
  • Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Perak (DK, ) – currently :
• Perlis :
  • Recipient of the Perlis Family Order of the Gallant Prince Syed Putra Jamalullail (DK)
• Selangor :
  • First Class of the Royal Family Order of Selangor (DK I)
• Terengganu :
  • Member first class of the Family Order of Terengganu (DK I)

Foreign honours

He received many foreign awards during his years of royal service. These are:

• Brazil : Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross (18 December 1995)
• Brunei :
  • Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (DKMB, 10 September 1996)
  • Senior of the Family Order of Brunei (DK, 5 August 1968)
• Cambodia : Grand Collar of the Order of Independence of Cambodia
• Chile : Grand Collar of the Order of Merit (Chile) (27 September 1995)
• Djibouti : Grand Star of Djibouti
• Finland : Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (25 January 1995)
• Germany : Special Order of the Grand Cross of the Bundesverdienstkreuz – 1996
• Philippines : Grand Collar of the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Raja (21 June 1995)
• South Korea : Grand Order of Mugunghwa
• Spain : Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Civil Merit (24 March 1995)
• Sweden : Knight with Collar of the Order of the Seraphim (22 February 1996)
• Uruguay : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Uruguay (3.7.1996)
• United Kingdom : Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) – 1998

Recognition

Many places and landmarks were named after him. These are:

• The Tuanku Ja'afar Power Station at Port Dickson
• Sekolah Menengah Sains Tuanku Jaafar, Kuala Pilah
• Kolej Tuanku Ja'afar at Mantin
• Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar in Seremban
• Sekolah Menengah Teknik Tuanku Jaafar[STTJ],Ampangan,Seremban

Bibliography

• Halim, Tunku Abdullah, A Passion for Life, All-Media Publications, 1998, ISBN 983-99449-0-8

Regnal titles
Preceded by Sultan Azlan Shah (Sultan of Perak)	Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) 1994–1999	Succeeded by Sultan Salahuddin (Sultan of Selangor)
Preceded by Tuanku Munawir	Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan 1967–2008	Succeeded by Tunku Muhriz