Raja of Perlis

The state of Perlis was previously the territory of Kedah. The separation of Perlis from Kedah takes place in 1803, during the abdication of Sultan Ziauddin Mukkaram Shah II. Since 1797, Perlis has been administered by Penghulu from Arabic descent, Syed Abu Bakar Harun Jamalullail who married with Sultan Ziauddin’s daughter. His son, Syed Hussein was promoted as Raja (King) of Perlis Indera Kayangan in 1843. Officially, the ruler of Perlis is styled as :-

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Raja Syed (personal name), Raja dan Yang di-Pertuan Negeri Perlis Indera Kayangan

His Royal Highness Raja and Head of State of Perlis

Below is the list of Raja of Perlis since 1897.


TUAN SYED SAFFI JAMALULLAIL
(1897 - 1904)

Tuan Syed Saffi is the third Raja of Perlis. He was born as Syed Saffi ibni almarhum Syed Alawi Jamalullail on 10th September 1862. He is the only son of Syed Alawi by his wife, Wan Fatima binti Dato’ Wan Ismail. He succeeded the throne on the death of his grandfather, on 17th February 1897. He ruled Perlis for 7 years. He died at Istana Diraja, Arau on 30th December 1904.


TUAN SYED ALWI JAMALULLAIL
(1904 - 1943)

Tuan Syed Alwi Jamalullail is the fourth Raja of Perlis. He was born at Istana Diraja Arau on 13th April 1881. He is the eldest son of Tuan Syed Saffi Jamalullail by his first wife, Wan Sa’adia. He was appointed as Heir Apparent with the title of Raja Muda in May 1897. He succeeded the throne on the death of his father, on 30th December 1904. He was installed as the Raja of Perlis on 4th October 1905.

Perlis came under British protection when Siam transferred the state to United Kingdom on 16th July 1909. Tuan Syed Alwi later was granted the hereditary style of His Highness and a salute of 17 guns by King George V. He ruled Perlis for 39 years. He died at Istana Diraja Arau on 1st February 1943.


TUAN SYED HAMZAH JAMALULLAIL
(1943 - 1945)

Tuan Syed Hamza Jamalullail is the fifth Raja of Perlis. He was born in 1895. He is the third son of Tuan Syed Saffi ibni almarhum Syed Alawi Jamalullail by his fifth wife, Che Shamsia binti Lebai Mat Amin. He was chosen by the Japanese Administration as the new ruler disregarding the rights of the Heir Apparent and formally installed as Raja of Perlis at Istana Diraja Arau on 2nd February 1943. Perlis was transferred to Thailand as the agreement between Japan and Thailand, which had allowed the Japanese to invade Malaya from Thai territory. He ruled Perlis for two years. He was deposed by the British Military Administration on 17th September 1945. Later, he renounced all claims to the throne on 18th September 1945.

He went voluntarily exiled at Satun (Setul), Thailand but returned and later settled at Alor Setar, Kedah. He was the composer of Perlis State Anthem (1935). He died at Alor Setar, Kedah on 20th February 1958.


TUANKU SYED HARUN PUTRA JAMALULLAIL
(1945 - 2000)

Tuanku Syed Harun Putra Jamalullail is the sixth Raja of Perlis. He was born at Arau, Perlis on 25th November 1920. He is the eldest son of Tuan Syed Husain ibni Syed Mahmud Jamalullail by his wife, Che Puan Wan Teh binti Endut. He was appointed as heir presumptive with the title Bakal Raja on 30th April 1938. During the Japanese Administration, he was removed as heir presumptive on the order of Japanese on 13th January 1942. Later, he succeeded the throne on the deposition of his uncle, Syed Hamzah on 17th September 1945. He was officially installed at Istana Diraja Arau on 4th December 1945. He was crowned as Raja of Perlis on 12th March 1949. Perlis became part of independence Malaya in 1957.

He was elected as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 14th April 1960. He was installed as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaya on 1st September 1960 (Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia by 16th September 1963). He left offices and returned to ruled Perlis on 19th August 1965. He ruled Perlis for 55 years. He died at Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), Kuala Lumpur on 16th April 2000.


TUANKU SYED SIRAJUDDIN JAMALULLAIL
(2000 - present)

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail is the seventh Raja of Perlis. He was born at Arau on 17th May 1943. He is the eldest son of Tuanku Syed Harun Putra Jamalullail by his first wife, Tengku Budriah ibni almarhum Tengku Ismail. He was appointed as Heir Apparent with the title Raja Muda by his father on 30th October 1960. He succeeded the throne on the death of his father on 16th April 2000. He was installed at Istana Diraja Arau on 17th April 2000.

He was elected as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia on 12th December 2001 and officially installed at Kuala Lumpur on 13th December 2001 (He never became the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong). He returned to ruled Perlis on 13th December 2006.