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HM Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail is a son of Tuanku Syed Putra Ibni Al-Marhun Syed Hassan Jamalullail, Raja of Perlis, the 3nd Yand di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and Tengku Budriah binti Al-Marhum Tengku Ismail.
Born in 1943, His Majesty became Raja of Perlis on Apr 17, 2000, the day after his father passed away. He was elected by the Conference of Malaysian Rulers the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong "He Who is Made Lord of Malaysia" on Dec 13, 2001.
The election followed a system of rotation among Malaysia's nine Malaysian rulers, who take turns being Head of State for a five-year term. The system dates back to 1957, when Malaysia broke free from British rule.
His Majesty started his turn earlier than expected as the Sultan of Selangor, who would have been king until 2004, died on Nov 21, 2001.
His Majesty is married to HM Queen Tuanku Fauziah binti Almarhum Tengku Abdul Rashid, the Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia, daughter of Al-Marhum Tengku Abdul Rashid ibni Al-marhum Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah of Terengganu and Al-Marhum Tengku Puteri binti Al-marhum Sultan Ibrahim Petra of Kelantan. Their Majesties have one son and one daughter.
His Majesty completed his studies at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (UK). Interested in education, he is the founder of Syed Putra Foundation, which supports students all around Malaysia wishing to further their studies. He is also interested in the internet and reading. He likes fishing, golf, tennis and football and is a fan of the Tottenham Hotspur football club.
Her Majesty was born on June 6, 1946. She completed her studies at Zainab English School in Kelantan. She is interested in arts and social issues, such as woman and child development. She is now the patron of many organisations, including the Malaysian Association of Girl Guides and the Muslim Women's Organisation in Perlis.
The king's role in Malaysia is largely ceremonial, with power in the hands of parliament and the prime minister. For ethnic Malays, who make up about 60 per cent of the population, the king is also the supreme upholder of Malaysian tradition and the symbolic head of Islam.
Their Majesties have visited Thailand several times in a private capacity.
Malaysia:Located in Southeast Asia, a peninsula bordering Thailand. The government is a constitutional monarchy, a middle-income country that transformed itself from 1971 through the late 1990s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy.
As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from higher world energy prices. The economy remains dependent on continued growth in the US, China, and Japan, its top export destinations and key sources of foreign investment.
Malaysia and Thailand established formal relations on August 31, 1957. As neighbours, the two countries have a close relationship. |
