Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, new Sultan of Perak

Sultan Dr Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, 58, the eldest child of Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, who was today proclaimed as the new Sultan of Perak, is a learned and people-oriented ruler.

The PhD holder in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University, was made the new Perak Sultan at an appointment and proclamation ceremony held in the Balairong Seri (Throne Room), Istana Iskandariah ,here, before the start of the funeral ceremony for his late father, Sultan Azlan Shah.

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The decision to appoint him as the new Perak Sultan was made at a special meeting of the Dewan Negara Perak (Perak Council of Succession) yesterday evening which was chaired by Orang Kaya Bendahara Seri Maharaja, Gen. (Rtd) Tan Sri Mohd Zahidi Zainuddin following Sultan Azlan Shah's demise yesterday.

Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah also has a bachelor's degree (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Worcester College, Oxford University and a master's degree in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard.

The ruler is married to Tuanku Zara and they have a son, Raja Azlan Muzaffar Shah, aged four years, and a two-year-old daughter, Raja Nazira Safya.

The then Raja Dr Nazrin Shah was appointed as Raja Kecil Besar on Feb 16, 1984 followng his father's appointment as the 34th Sultan of Perak.

According to the Perak Sultanate's unique succession rotation system, the Raja Kecil Besar is third in line to the Perak throne before the Raja Di-Hilir and Raja Muda (Crown Prince). Below the position of Raja Kecil Besar are Raja Kecil Sulong, Raja Kecil Tengah and Raja Kecil Bongsu (6th and lowest).

In 1987, with the passing of the Perak Raja Muda, Raja Ahmad Saifuddin Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Shah, the then Raja Di-Hilir, Raja Ahmad Hisham Raja Abdul Malik, 80, made way for Raja Nazrin Shah to become Raja Muda due to age and health factors.

When Sultan Azlan Shah became the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia), Raja Nazrin Shah was appointed as the Regent of Perak from April 1989 until 1994.

Sultan Nazrin Shah received his early education at Sekolah Rendah Jalan Kuantan, Kuala Lumpur, and had his secondary schooling at St. John's Institution.

After returning from his higher education abroad, His Highness worked as an executive at Petronas from 1979 to 1983 and then pursued the master's degree.

Sultan Nazrin Shah, who is Universiti Malaya pro-chancellor, is also an Honorary Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford University.

Last year, he was appointed as a member of the Chancellor's Court of Benefactors, Oxford University and has assumed the role of financial ambassador of the Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre.

The new Perak Sultan is also Eminent Fellow of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) and president of the Perak Islamic Religion and Malay Custom Council.

Following his father's footsteps, Sultan Nazrin Shah was once the president of the Malaysian Hockey Federation and Perak Football Association president.

His Highness was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship by the Chicago-based Lions Club International Foundation, the highest honour to an individual for dedicated humanitarian service, and also received the Global Islamic Finance Leadership Award 2012.

Known to be humble and people-oriented, the ruler surprised many quarters when he declined a state government allocation for his wedding ceremony in 2007.