Sultan 'Sharafuddin' Idris Shah of Selangor - Malay Ruler of 'diversity, moderation, straightforwardness' turns 80

The Sultan of Selangor, a central Malaysian state, landlocking the capital Kuala Lumpur, turned 80 on Christmas eve (December 24) 2025. HRH Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah celebrated his official birthday on Thursday, 11 December (2025) in an annual ceremony at Shah Alam Palace, bestowing royal awards on 98 recepients. In an exclusive interview to Malaysian newspaper BERNAMA, The Malay Ruler called for tolerance, peaceful coexistence & respect of differences, while prioritizing the National over the state interests. Known as Tengku Idris Shah before succeeding his father, King of Malaysia, as Sultan in 2001, Sharafuddin was an avid sportsman, racing driver & sailor, having circumnavigated the world in his yacht. Having served in administrative offices from 1970, he has been straightforward in addressing the people's demands and criticizing civil servants for 'inappropriate conduct', staying short of intervening. The Sultan has three children from two previous marriages, and is currently married to Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin (a former television broadcaster). His only son & heir, Raja Muda (Crown Prince) Tengku Amir Shah, 35, married to Datin Paduka Seri Afzaa Fadini in an elaborate Royal Wedding in October of this year (2025).

The early Birthday celebration for Sultan Sharafuddin began with special nationwide Friday prayers on 5 December 2025, involving the recital of tahlil, Yasin & Doa' Selamat ceremony. The Sultan, who also has the role of Ulil Arm (Ruler), also listened to a sermon, touching his role as guardian of Islam in the Sultanate. He and the Raja Muda attended all prayers at Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque (in Klang), named after his late father & predecessor, whose grave The Royal Family visited at The Royal Mausoleum on December 9. Sharafuddin then hold a thanksgiving prayer (with holy water) at the palace. On his Official Birthday (11 December), The Sultan & Tengku Permaisuri were welcomed through a Main Guard of Honour, upon their arrival to Istana Alam Shah at 9:30am, next to The Raja Muda (who turned 35 on Dec. 12) and his wife. At the Throne Hall (Balairung Seri), The Sultan received congratulations by The Chief Minister - who pledged allegiance to him - and then took part in the investiture ceremony of awards and honors, pinning medals & insignia on the 98 recepients, who included his eldest daughter, Tengku Zerafina first in the list. She received her Darjah Kerabat Selangor Yang Amat Dihormati (D.K.II) in person at a Kuala Lumpur hotel in person, by her father on 15/12/2025. On 15 & 16 December (2025), private birthday bashes - involving a cake cutting - were held in Kuala Lumur & (royal capital) Klang, rescectively. The Sultan reached his actual Jubilee on December 24, two weeks after his Official Birthday.

On the occasion of his 80th Birthday The Sultan gave an exclusive interview to Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Bernama Chairman, National Journalism Laureate, which was published on his Official Birthday's eve. Sharafuddin expressed thanks to the rakyat (people) for their wishes & prayers, looking forward to celebrate his Silver Jubilee of reign in November next year. He highlighted diversity, respect, mutual understanding & moderation as core values & wished that everyone adhere to knowledge, compassion & integrity as his best birthday gift. The Sultan also commented on several topics, asking his state's MPs to respect the people & called shouting matches & disorderly behaviour "a disgrace". He called social media users to "think deeply" before posting sensitive things around ethnicity, faith, & national identity. He despiced usual divisive labels of "Type C" (Chinese) or "Type M" (Malay), kafir (infidel) & non-kafir, orang kita (our people) or "jenis dia" (their kind) among fellow Malaysians, pleading to "stop such nonsense". Regarding AI abuse, HRH asked strict laws be enforced to avoid further damage. The Ruler was saddened by the raising violence at schools (including a recent fatal stabbing) and suggested a Danish schooling model of non-punishing, emotional learning classes. The Sultan reminded that his state Selangor voluntary handed over Putrajaya (in capital) to the Federal Government placing National interest beyond its own; as well as its openness to assimilation of non-Malays & no-Muslims alike. He was "fed up" with inability of local councils to keep Selangor clean, getting numerous public complains.

Born Tengku Idris Shah on 24 December 1945, he was the elder son of Tengku Abdul Aziz Shah & Raja Saidatul Ihsan Tengku Badar Shah (from Perak). He attended primary schooling in Kuala Lumpur (then part of Selangor), Malaya, before continuing at St. John's Institution. In 1960, after his father became Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Tengku Idris Shah continued his college studies in Perth, Australia & Surrey, England. Upon returning to Malaysia, he served at the Selangor State Secretariat, the Kuala Lumpur district office & the police department; and as Captain-in-Chief of The Royal Malaysian Navy. Installed as Raja Muda in 1970, Idris Shah was married to Raja Zarina binti Raja Zainal Abidin from 1968 to 1986, having two daughters Tengku Zerafina & Tengku Zatashah (& later a granddaughter). He remarried (American-born) Nur Lisa Idris binti Abdullah (nee Lisa Davis) in 1988, and welcomed a son, Tengku Amir Shah (current Raja Muda) in 1990. They divorced in 1997 and he married Norashikin Abdul Rahman in 2016. used his yacht to travel around the world in 1995 & competed in a 1997 Motor Challenge from Peking to Paris. Idris Shah became Regent in 1999 when his father was elected the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia). Upon Salahuddin's death in November 2001, he succeeded as 9th Sultan of Selangor and was given the regnal name Sharafuddin ('religious enlightenment' arabic). Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah was crowned on 8 March 2003 at Istana Alam Shah, in (the royal capital) Klang. Sharafuddin has been considered a prominent, yet calm, direct & easy-approached Malay Ruler.

The Milestone of Sultan Sharafuddin comes at the end of a busy year which saw his only son & heir apparent married. During his interview with Bernama, His Royal Highness also thanked "the people of Selangor for their wonderful wishes and blessings to the couple" of (Raja Muda) Tengku Amir Shah & (Datin Paduka Seri) Afzaa Fadini Abdul Aziz, whose wedding reception had happily gone smoothly. On Wednesday, 22 October 2025, three weeks after solemnizing their marriage, the newlyweds held their Bersanding (Wedding reception) at Balairung Seri, Istana Alam Shah, beginning at 7:45pm. They were blessed by the bridegroom's parents, half-sisters & stepmother (Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin) and the bride's family, before proceeding to Balai Santapan Diraja for a Royal Wedding Banquet at 9:14'pm. The general public got its change to celebrate with the newlywed couple at Dataran Kemerdekaan (the Independence Square), Shah Alam on Friday 7 November 2025 in a series of activities during the day, and a nightly performance after 8:00pm. Thus for Sultan Sharafuddin, who will continue mingling with the people at age 80, this milestone also cemented one more step towards a smooth transition in the future.

Videos:

Previous relevant Blog Post; The Wedding Day of The Heir to The Throne of Selangor Sultanate:

https://royaleventsintheword.blogspot.com/2025/10/royal-wedding-in-malaysia-heir-to.html

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