Hari Hol Pahang in Malaysia Date in the current year: May 22, 2024

The Sultanate of Pahang was originally a kingdom established around the 5th century or maybe even earlier. In the 15th century, Pahang became a vassal sultanate of Melaka (Malacca). The ruling dynasty of Pahang was established in 1470 by Muhammad Shah, a former heir apparent to the throne of Melaka.

In 1623, Pahang was nominally merged with Johor, and for almost two centuries, the Sultan of Johor was also the ruler of Pahang. In the late 18th century, Pahang acquired self-rule, and Tun Abdul Majid of the Benahara family became the first Raja Behandara of Pahang.

In 1853, the then-Raja Behandara Tun Ali declared the independence of Pahang from Johor. However, by the end of the century Pahang became a British protectorate as part of the Federated Malay States, alongside Negeri Sembilan, Perak, and Selangor.

During World War II, Pahang was occupied by the Empire of Japan. Throughout the occupation, the reigning Sultan of Pahang Abu Bakar helped to keep his subjects from starving by opening a large potato plantation behind the palace and actively supported the formation of underground resistance units.

When the war ended, Pahang became a member of the Federation of Malaya, which declared its independence from the United Kingdom in 1957 and was transformed into present-day Malaysia in 1963.

In Pehang, the birthday of the incumbent Sultan and the death anniversary of the previous Sultan are public holidays. The predecessor of the current Sultan of Pahang was Ahmad Shah of Pahang. He was born on October 24, 1930 to Abu Bakar of Pahang. When Ahmad Shah was two years old, his father ascended to the throne, and he became the heir apparent of Pahang.

Upon his graduation from the Malay College Kuala Kangsar, a prestigious boarding school in Perak, Ahmad Shah went to England to get his higher education. He studied public administration at Worcester College of the University of Oxford and the University of Exeter.

Sultan Abu Bakar passed away on May 5, 1974, and Ahmad Shah succeeded him as the ruler of Pahang. From 1979 to 1984, he also served as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the head of state of Malaysia elected by the rulers of the Malay states). Sultan Ahmad Shah had a headstrong personality and was a controversial ruler due to his habit of forcing chief ministers to resign over minor disagreements.

As Ahmad Shah became older, his health began to fail, and the state constitution was amended to give him the power to abdicate. Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang abdicated on January 11, 2019 and died on May 22 at the age of 88.

Following his death, the observance of Hari Hol Pahang was changed from May 7 (the death anniversary of Sultan Abu Bakar) to May 22. Hari Hol Pahang is a day reserved for grieving the previous sultan of Pahang and celebrating his accomplishments. It is marked by special prayers in mosques and remembrance ceremonies.