Sultan of Pahang’s Birthday in Malaysia Date in the current year: July 30, 2024

Pahang is the third largest state of Malaysia by area. It originated as a kingdom, but became a vassal sultanate of Malacca in the 15th century. The first Sultan of Pahang was Muhammad Shah, a Malaccan prince who had been banished to Pahang by his father. Over the years, Pahang became an independent sultanate ruled by the Bednahara dynasty, which replaced the Malaccan dynasty.

In the mid-19th century, the British convinced the Sultan of Pahang to accept a British colonial administrator. There were several revolts against the British colonization, but they were suppressed by the colonial authorities. Pahang officially became a British protectorate in 1895. During the Second World War, Pahang was temporarily occupied by Japan. After the war, it joined the Federation of Malaya, which gained independence from Great Britain in 1957 and was transformed into Malaysia in 1963.

The incumbent Sultan of Pahang is Abdullah. He ascended the throne of Pahang in January 2019. Days later, he was elected as the Supreme Head (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) of Malaysia. During his tenure as head of state (until 2024), Pahang will be ruled by crown prince Tengku Hassana. as the regent of Pahang.

Abdullah was born on July 30, 1959 to crown prince Ahmad Shah of Pahang and his first wife Tengku Ampuan Afzan. He received primary education in Pahang and then went to the United Kingdom for secondary education. After graduating from secondary school, Abdullah attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and studied at the University of Oxford and King’s College London. He graduated in 1981 with a Diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy and returned to Malaysia to pursue a military career.

Abdullah was appointed as the crown prince of Pahang following his father’s ascension to the throne in 1975, but the official ceremony installing him as heir apparent took place two years later, when Abdullah came of age. He served as the regent of Pahang twice: between 1979 and 1984, when his father was elected as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and from December 2016 to January 2019, due to his father’s incapability to rule because of deteriorating health.

On January 11, 2019, the Constitution of Pahang was amended to allow Sultan Ahmad Shah to abdicate and pave the way to Abdullah to succeed to the throne. Abdullah was proclaimed as the new Sultan of Pahang on January 15, but his reign retroactively began on January 11. Nine days later, he was elected as the Supreme Head of Malaysia; his son was proclaimed as the regent on January 29.

Penang is one of the Malaysian states that celebrate the actual birthday of their ruler. While Ahmad Shah was the Sultan of Pahang, the Sultan’s birthday was celebrated on October 24. When Abdullah ascended to the throne, the holiday was moved to July 30.