Sirajuddin of Perlis

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail (Jawi: توانكو سيد سراج الدين ابن المرحوم توانكو سيد ڤوترا جمل الليل; born 17 May 1943) is Raja of Perlis, reigning since 2000.

He studied at the Arau Malay School until standard two, then from 5 January 1950 he continued his primary education at Wellesley Primary School in Penang followed by Westland Primary School until the end of 1955.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin began his secondary education at Penang Free School on 9 January 1956 and later left for England to study at Wellingborough School for four years until 1963.

In October 1960, he was appointed the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Perlis while still a student.

He underwent training as a Cadet Officer at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, England, from January 1964 until December 1965.

Upon his return from England, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin served with the Ministry of Defence Malaysia.

His first post was as Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Regiment of the Malaysian Reconnaissance Corps on 12 December 1965.

In 1966, he was transferred to Sabah and then to Sarawak in 1967.

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in December 1967.

On 15 February 1967, he married Tengku Fauziah binti Almarhum Tengku Abdul Rashid D.K., S.S.P.J., S.P.M.P. (born 6 June 1946) at Kota Bharu, Kelantan, daughter of Tengku Temenggong Tengku Abdul Rashid ibni Almarhum Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah of Terengganu, by his wife Tengku Maharani Putri Tengku Kembang Puteri binti Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim of Kelantan, who became the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin was appointed for the first time as the Regent of Perlis when the Raja of Perlis and the Raja Perempuan of Perlis travelled to the United States and Europe from 23 June 1967 until 24 October 1967.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin has one son and one daughter :

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin has travelled to many countries including United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Egypt, Spain, Libya, the Netherlands, Belgium, Thailand and Saudi Arabia.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin is also active in sports.

Among his favourite sports are golf, tennis, football and is a fan of Tottenham Hotspur football club.

He then served in Pahang for several years until he resigned on 31 December 1969 to return to Perlis.

In 1970, he served in the armed forces again, as Captain of the Local Territorial Army from 16 November 1970 until 1 October 1972.

He has been the Chairman of Putra Golf Club, Perlis since May 1971, and the patron of the Association of Football Referees of Perlis since 1967.

He was also the Chairman of the Football Association of Perlis for 18 years.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin interacts frequently with his people through various fields and heads many social organisations, which are:

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin is renowned for his dedication towards his people and takes great interest in education.

He was promoted to Major on 1 October 1972.

Presently, he is the Commanding Officer of Regiment 504 of the Army Reserve Unit with the rank of Colonel.

With the establishment of the Tuanku Syed Putra Foundation in 1986, many Perlis students have been able to further their studies locally and abroad.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin is the Chairman of this foundation.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin became directly involved in religious affairs when he was appointed President of the Islamic Council of Perlis by the late Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra, the then ruler of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin is especially concerned that the religious affairs of the state are based on the 'Ahlis Sunnah Waljamaah' doctrine.

In this regard, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin is constantly in touch with the religious leaders of Perlis.

He has been awarded:

Perlis :

Several places were named after him, including:

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail was installed as the twelfth ruler of Perlis on 17 April 2000, the day after the death of his father, Tuanku Syed Putra ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail, who had been Raja since 1945, and was at that time the world's longest reigning monarch.

He previously reigned as the twelfth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the constitutional monarch of Malaysia, from 2001 to 2006.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin was born in Arau, Perlis, the second of ten children of Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail and Tengku Budriah binti Almarhum Tengku Ismail.

Continuing the tradition of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong rotation, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin was elected as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, his term began on 13 December 2001.

This was earlier than expected because the previous and 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Sir Hisamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj, died in office on 21 November 2001 while his term should have ended in 2004.

At that time, he was the fastest ruler to become the Yang di-Pertuan Agong from his accession to his state's throne, at 1 year & 241 days (record now held by Al-Sultan Abdullah).

Tuanku Sirajuddin's term ended on 12 December 2006.