Tuanku Abdul Rahman

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This is a Malaysian monarch. For Malaysia Prime Minister, see Tunku Abdul Rahman.

In full, Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad, (August 24, 1895 - April 1, 1960) was the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong (roughly equivalent to King) of Malaysia, and second Yang di-Pertuan Besar of modern Negeri Sembilan.

Born Tunku Abdul Rahman at Istana Lama, Seri Menanti, he was the second son of Tuanku Muhammad Shah ibni Almarhum Tuanku Antah, first Yang di-Pertuan Besar of modern Negeri Sembilan and seventh Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Seri Menanti (1888-1933) by his consort Tunku Puan Chik. On the death of his elder brother, Tunku Abdul Aziz, in 1917, he was groomed as heir to the throne and qualified as a barrister in London.

In London, he was elected first President of the Kesatuan Melayu United Kingdom, one of the earliest Malay nationalist groups. Subsequently, he served in the Malayan Civil Service in various parts of British Malaya.

On the death of his father in 1933, Tunku Abdul Rahman (then Tunku Laksamana of Negeri Sembilan) was elected Yang di-Pertuan Besar by the four Undang or Ruling Chieftains of Negeri Sembilan. His accession was witnessed by brother ruler Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah of Selangor.

Tuanku Abdul Rahman (as he became) was elected first Yang di-Pertuan Agong or Paramount Ruler of independent Malaya on August 31, 1957 for a five year term, but died in his sleep at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur on April 1, 1960. He was buried at the Royal Mausoleum in Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan - in the first state funeral of that nation.

Tuanku Abdul Rahman believed strongly in parliamentary democracy and one of his most memorable quotes was to a foreign dignitary who complained about Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj's "high handed" manner and wanted the King to sack him. To this, His Late Majesty replied: "I cannot sack him, he is elected by the people. But he can sack me!"

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Tuanku Abdul Rahman married four wives, they were:

Dulcie Campbell, a Eurasian nurse who embraced Islam as Cik Maimunah (divorced)
Tunku Mahrum, a member of the Negeri Sembilan royal family (divorced)
Tunku Kurshiah, a cousin, who became first Raja Permaisuri Agong or Queen of Malaya
Tunku Zaidah, another cousin

Two of his children succeeded him as Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan:

Tuanku Munawir (son of Tunku Mahrum), who reigned 1960-1967
Tuanku Jaafar (son of Dulcie Campbell), who succeeded his brother in 1967 and still reigns

His face has adorned all Ringgit Malaysia banknotes since its introduction. Also, his name was commemorates on one of the streets of Kuala Lumpur's Masjid India business district nearby Dataran Merdeka,Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

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