Tunku Abdul Rahman (1933–1989)

For other people named Tunku Abdul Rahman, see Tunku Abdul Rahman (disambiguation).

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Sultan Ismail is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Abdul Rahman. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Tunku Abdul Rahman ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Ismail (25 November 1933 – 12 July 1989) was the younger son of Sultan Ismail of Johor as well as the younger brother of Sultan Iskandar of Johor. Tunku Abdul Rahman held the post of Tunku Mahkota^[3] (Crown Prince) for twenty years until shortly before his father's death in 1981. The termination of his post generated considerable controversy for a brief period of time.^[4]

Tunku Abdul Rahman
Born	Tunku Abdul Rahman ibni Tunku Ismail (1933-11-25)25 November 1933 Istana Semayam, Johor Bahru, Johor, Unfederated Malay States, British Malaya
Died	12 July 1989(1989-07-12) (aged 55) Istana Pasir Pelangi, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Burial	13 July 1989 Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Spouse	Tunku Hajjah Shahariah binti Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman ​ ​ (m. 1956⁠–⁠1989)​
Issue	Tunku Abu Bakar
Names Tunku Abdul Rahman ibni Tunku Ismail (at birth)
House	Temenggong[1]
Father	Sultan Ismail of Johor
Mother	Sultanah Ungku Tun Aminah[2]

Succession crisis

Tunku Abdul Rahman was appointed Tunku Mahkota of Johor by his father, Sultan Ismail on 10 August 1961, after his brother, Tunku Iskandar (later Sultan Iskandar) was disinherited from the post on grounds of alleged misbehaviour.^[5] Five years later in December 1966, Tunku Iskandar was appointed as the Raja Muda at the request of their father, Sultan Ismail and was approved by the Council of Royal Court, and placing him second in line to the royal throne behind Tunku Abdul Rahman.^[6] On 29 April 1981, as Sultan Ismail lay ill on his deathbed, Tunku Iskandar was appointed Tunku Mahkota in favour of him.^[7]

The decision took many people by surprise, including the then-Menteri Besar of Johor, Othman Saat who promptly criticised the Sultan's actions, and earning the wrath of Tunku Iskandar at the same time.^[4] Tunku Abdul Rahman, on the other hand, initially remained silent but later took his grievances to his press and expressed his shock and disappointment over his father's decision, suggesting that he had done nothing wrong in the twenty years as the Tunku Mahkota and also cited some of his significant contributions to the state during his tenure.^[8]

Later life

After the succession crisis, Tunku Abdul Rahman reverted to his old post of Tunku Bendahara, which he had briefly held from 1959 to 1961. Tunku Abdul Rahman, by now in ailing health, held that post until his death in 1989.^[9] In his later years, his health, already plagued by diabetes, worsened, which ultimately saw one of his legs being amputated.^[10]

After his death, the post of Tunku Bendahara was passed down to Sultan Iskandar's younger son, Tunku Abdul Majid.^[11]

Honours

• Johor
  • First Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I) (1962)^[12]
  • Second Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK II) (1959)^[13]
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ) – Dato' (1964)^[14]
• Perak
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Cura Si Manja Kini (SPCM) – Dato' Seri (1971)^[15]
• Kedah
  • Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah (SSDK) – Dato' Seri (1983)^[16]
• Brunei
  • Coronation Medal (1 August 1968)^[17]