Sultan of Kelantan

The Sultan of Kelantan is the leader of Kelantan state in Malaysia. He has important powers to help lead the state. The current sultan is Muhammad V, the 29th person to be sultan.

The Sultan is also the main leader for Islam in Kelantan. He helps guide the Islamic practices and traditions there. He gives out all official titles, honours, and dignities for the people of Kelantan.

Muhammad V also had a bigger role in Malaysia. He was the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the monarch and head of state for all of Malaysia. He served from 13 December 2016 until 6 January 2019. He was elected for this role on 14 October 2016 by the rulers of Malaysia.

History

Kelantan was a powerful state with trade links to early Chinese, Indian, and Siamese civilisations. It was once part of bigger empires like Majapahit and Srivijaya, and later came under the rule of Siam and Malacca. After Malacca was taken over by the Portuguese in 1511, Kelantan split into smaller areas controlled by nearby Pattani.

In 1760, a leader named Long Muhammad or Long Pandak brought the areas back together under one ruler. However, he was later overthrown by another leader, Long Yunus, who took control. After Long Yunus died in 1795, the area was controlled by Terengganu. In 1800, Long Muhammad’s son declared himself Sultan Muhammad I and was recognised by the Siamese as the ruler in 1812.

In September 2010, Sultan Ismail Petra was replaced as ruler by his eldest son, Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, because he was not well after a serious health issue. There were legal debates about this change for several months.

Residences

• Istana Negeri (State Palace), located at Kubang Kerian, is the official home of the current ruler, Sultan Muhammad V. Many important events happen there.
• Istana Mahkota (Crown Palace), also in Kubang Kerian, is where Sultan Muhammad V’s mother Raja Perempuan Tengku Anis lives.
• Istana Balai Besar (Grand Hall Palace), in downtown Kota Bharu, was built in 1840. It is used for big official events and ceremonies.
• Istana Telipot (Telipot Palace), in Kota Bharu, used to be where the sultan lived before he became the ruler.
• Istana Bukit Tanah (Bukit Tanah Palace), in Tumpat, was built before 1910.
• Istana Kota Lama (Old Fortress Palace), near the Kelantan River, was an old home for early rulers. It is now where the crown prince and royal family stay.
• Istana Jahar (Jahar Palace), in downtown Kota Bharu, was built in 1887. It now holds the Museum of Royal Traditions and Ceremonies (Malay: Muzium Adat Istiadat Diraja).
• Istana Batu (Batu Palace), also in downtown Kota Bharu, was finished in 1939. It now houses the Royal Museum (Malay: Muzium Diraja).

Succession

The Sultan of Kelantan is chosen by special rules. Only men from certain royal families can become Sultan. They must believe in Muslim teachings.

Right now, the next person to be Sultan is Sultan Muhammad V. After him, it will be his sons and other close family members.

List of dynasties and rulers

Sultans and Rajas of the Malay Kingdom of Langkasuka Dynasty

• 1267–1339: Raja Sang Tawal (Abdullah), Raja of Langkasuka, elder son of Raja Sakranta, Maharaja of Jawaka. He was defeated by the Siamese in 1295 and fled from Ligor after losing Singgora, finally settling in Kelantan here he established a new capital
• 1339–1362: Sultan Mahmud Shah ibnu 'Abdu'llah, Raja of Lankasuka and Kelantan, son of Paduka Sri Sang Tawal
• 1362–1418: Sultan Baki Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Shah, Raja of Chermin, son of Sultan Mahmud ibnu Abdullah, Raja of Langkasuka and Kelantan
• 1418–1429: Sultan Sadik Muhammad Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Baki Shah [Maulana Nenggiri]
• 1429–1467: Sultan Iskandar Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Baki Shah
• 1467–1522: Sultan Mansur Shah I ibni al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar Shah
• 1522–1526: Sultan Gombak Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Mansur Shah
• 1526–1547: Sultan Ahmad Shah ibni al-Marhum Raja Muda Mansur Shah II, son of Raja Muda Mansur Shah II ibni al-Marhum Sultan Gombak Shah. He succeeded on the death of his grandfather
• 1547–1561: Sultan Mansur Shah III ibni al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad Shah
• 1561–1565: Sultan Ibrahim Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Mansur Shah III (first time)
• 1565–1570: Raja Umar bin Raja Ahmad bin Raja Muhammad ibni Sultan Gombak Shah, Raja Muhammad bith in of (Terengganu)
• 1570–1579: Paduka Sri Sultan Ibrahim Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Mansur Shah III (second time)

Sultans and Rajas from Jembla Dynasty

• 1579–1597: Sultan Addil ud-din ibni al-Marhum Nik Jamal ud-din (1 time)
• 1597–1602: Sultan Muhammad ibni al-Marhum Sultan Ibrahim
• 1602–1605: Sultan Addil ud-din ibni al-Marhum Nik Jamal ud-din (2 time), Raja of Kelantan
• 1605–1616: Sultan Samir ud-din ibni al-Marhum Nik Jamal ud-din, Raja of Kelantan, son of Nik Jamal ud-din bin Wan Abul Muzaffar, Deputy King of Champa
• 1616–1637: Sultan 'Abdu'l Kadir ibni al-Marhum Sultan Samir ud-din
• 1637–1649: Raja Sakti I ibni al-Marhum Sultan 'Abdu'l Kadir, Raja of Kelantan-Utara (Jembla) and Patani
• 1649–1663: Raja Loyor bin Raja Sakti I
• 1663–1667: Interregnum or queen Puteri Saadong
• 1667–1671: Ratu Sa'adong I binti Raja Loyor, Putri Vijaya Mala, Raja of Jembla
• 1671–1676: Sultan Abdul Rahim ibni al-Marhum Sultan Samir ud-din Bahar
• 1675–1721: Sultan Omar Ibni Al-Marhum Raja Sakti I

Sultans and Rajas of Patani Dynasty

18th century

• 1721–1734: Raja Long Bahar bin Dato' Pengkalan Tua Wan Daim, son of a Bugis adventurer who arrived and settled in Patani around 1640. He was styled Laksamana and Tuan Long Besar before his accession. He succeeded his father-in-law, as Regent 1715. He became Raja of Patani soon afterwards, but was expelled by Raja Bendang Badan in 1716. He succeeded on the death of his grand father-in-law, as Raja of Kelantan-Utara (Jembla), before 22 October 1721. He assumed the title of Sultan. He married his first wife, Raja Mas Kelantan of Patani (d. 1707), daughter of Raja Bakar of Patani. His second marriage was to Pah binti Raja Sakti, daughter of Raja Sakti II of Kelantan. His daughter is Sri Biji di-Raja of Patani.
• 1734–1739; 1746–1756: Raja Long Sulaiman Bin Long Bahar, son of Long Bahar and his father's first wife Raja Mas Kelantan. He succeeded on the death of his father, 1734. He was deposed by his cousin in 1739 and restored again in 1746 and lastly deposed by his son-in-law in 1756.
• 1739–1746: Interregnum during the First Kelantanese Civil War between Raja Long Pandak of the western faction and Raja Long Sulaiman of the eastern faction.
• 1756–1758: Raja Long Pandak bin Tuan Sulung Bin Dato' Pengkalan Tua Wan Daim. He succeeded as ruler of West Kelantan around 1717. He was granted the title of Dato' Sri Maharaja by Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Syah of Johor on 1741. Later he was recognised as ruler of all Kelantan by his brother-in-law, Long Derahman, and installed at Fort Kubang Labu, 1756.
• 1758–1763: Raja Long Muhammad bin Tuan Sulung. He was appointed heir apparent (Raja Muda) by his brother in 1756. He was proclaimed as Raja of Kelantan by Long Derahman, at Fort Kubang Labu, before 1758. He was expelled from Kubang Labu by Long Yunus before 1763.
• 1763–1795: Raja Long Yunus bin Raja Long Sulaiman. He expelled Long Muhammad and became Raja of Kelantan at Fort Kubang Labu, before 1763. He became Raja and Yang di-Pertuan of Kelantan, 1776 and installed as Yang di-Pertuan Muda of Kelantan by his father-in-law Sultan Mansur Shah I of Terengganu in 1793. He married his first wife before 1741, Jumat, Inche' Puan Balai Dua, daughter of Engku Tanang Wangsa of Trengganu. His second marriage around 1793 was to Inche' Encik Tuan Nawi, daughter of Sultan Mansur Riayat Shah I of Terengganu.
• 1795–1800: Tengku Muhammad ibni Sultan Mansur Riayat Shah I of Terengganu. His first marriage on 1764 to Engku Wan Teh, daughter of Paduka Sri Raja Long Yunus. He was installed as second Yang di-Pertuan Muda of Kelantan in 1795 after his father-in-law's death. He was defeated by Long Muhammad in 1800.

19th century

• 1800–1835: Sultan Muhammad I expelled his brother-in-law Tengku Muhammad with Chinese help. He was installed as Raja and Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Kelantan on November 1801 and became a separate tributary of Siam in 1812.
• 1835–1836 (jointly): Tengku Long Zainal Abidin ibni al-Marhum Raja Long Yunus (along with Sultan Muhammad II). He was installed as Raja Bendahara 17 November 1801. He was appointed as Governor of Banggul and granted the title of Phaya Banggul by King Rama I of Siam 1812. He assumed power after the death of Sultan Muhammad I as regent with the title of Yang di-Pertuan Muda in 1835. He was deposed by Sultan Muhammad II in 1837. He died at Nongchik, Patani, 1845.
• 1836–1886: Sultan Muhammad II ibni al-Marhum Tengku Temenggong Long Tan bin Raja Long Yunus. As a consequence of dissension within the Royal Family, he was obliged by the Siamese to share power with his uncle, Tengku Long Zainal Abidin. He was recognised as ruler by the King of Siam and raised to the title of Phaya Visit Bakdiya 1836. He raised his station by King Rama V of Siam on March 1877.
• 1886–1889: Sultan Ahmad ibni Long Senik Mulut Merah. He was appointed as regent of Kelantan but installed as Yang Di-Pertuan of Kelantan by Siam on October 1886 after his father Muhammad II died. Before that he was appointed as Siamese Governor over Kelantan and presented with a Sword of Honour, 14 June 1869 by King Rama IV.
• 1889–1890: Sultan Muhammad III ibni Sultan Ahmad Ibni al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad. Born 1845, he was the eldest son of Sultan Ahmad. He was appointed Raja Bendahara and Tengku Sri Indra before his accession. He was appointed as Heir Apparent with the title of Raja Kelantan in September 1887. He succeeded on the death of his father on March 1889. He was installed as Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan Besar, at Istana Balai Besar, Kota Bharu in September 1890. He died at Istana Balai Besar, Kota Bharu, 11 May 1890 and buried in the Royal Cemetery, Kampung Langgar.
• 1890–1899: Sultan Mansur ibni Sultan Ahmad ibni al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad Tengah. Born 1870, he was son to Sultan Ahmad. He was appointed as heir presumptive (Raja Muda) in September 1887. Then he was installed as heir apparent and regent for his brother (as Raja Kelantan) in September 1889. He succeeded on his death, as Yang di-Pertuan in 1890 and granted the title of Phra Visit Bakdiya in 1897. He was proclaimed as Paduka Sri Sultan in 1898. He died at Istana Johar, Kota Bharu on 17 June 1899 and buried at the Royal Cemetery, Kampung Langgar.

20th century

• 1899–1920: Sultan Muhammad IV Ibni Sultan Muhammad III. Born in Kota Bharu on 23 May 1870, son of Sultan Muhammad III and his wife Tengku Sofia. He was granted the title of Tengku Sri Indra on 23 September 1890. He was appointed as heir presumptive(as Raja Muda) on 25 July 1898 and then granted the title of Phaya Bpakdi Sri Sultan Muhammad Ratna Nuchit Siti Santun Wiwangsa Pia Kelantan by the King of Siam. He succeeded on the death of his childless uncle on 17 June 1899. He was installed as Raja Kelantan and Yang di-Pertuan on 9 February 1900. Kelantan was transferred to British Protection on 19 July 1909. He was crowned as Paduka Sri Baginda Sultan Muhammad IV on 22 June 1911. He altered the name of the state to Negeri Kelantan Dar ul-Naim, July 1916. He founded the Darjah Kerabat Yang Amat di-Hormatai (Royal Family Order) and the Paduka Mahkota Kelantan al-Muhammad (the Order of the Crown of Kelantan of Muhammad) on 1916. He died at the Istana, Kota Bharu, 23 December 1920 and buried at the Royal Cemetery, Kampung Langgar.

• 1920–1944: Sultan Ismail ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV. Born in Kota Bharu on 20 August 1880, eldest son of Sultan Muhammad IV. He was granted the title of Tengku Sri Jaya Raja and promoted to Tengku Sri Indra Mahkota 11 March 1901. He was granted the title of Phra Rattasadana Adipati Putra by the King of Siam 1901. He was appointed as heir apparent and formally invested with the title of Raja Kelantan on 22 June 1911. He succeeded on the death of his father on 23 December 1920. He was crowned at Istana Balai Besar, Kota Bharu, 28 April 1921. He died from tuberculosis, at Istana Jahar, Kota Bharu on 20 June 1944 and was buried in the Royal Cemetery, Kampung Langgar.

• 1944–1960: Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV. Born at Istana Balai Besar, Kota Bharu on 9 October 1897. He was the second son of Sultan Muhammad IV. He was granted the title of Tengku Sri Indra Mahkota by his father on 22 June 1911. He was appointed as heir apparent (as Raja Kelantan) on 21 April 1921. He succeeded on the death of his brother on 20 June 1944 and proclaimed the next day where he was crowned at Istana Balai Besar, Kota Bharu on 25 October 1944. He attended the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London in 1953. He died from a cerebral haemorrhage at Istana Sri Cemerlang, Kota Bharu on 9 July 1960 and buried at the Royal Cemetery, Kampung Langgar.

• 1960–1979: Sultan Yahya Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim Sultan. Born at Istana Kota Lama, Kota Bharu on 10 December 1917. He was the second son of Sultan Ibrahim. He was educated at the Francis Light School in Georgetown, Penang, and later in England. He was raised by his heirless uncle, Sultan Ismail I. He was invested with the title of Tengku Temenggong on 21 July 1939, and promoted to Tengku Bendahara on 6 February 1945. He was appointed as heir apparent in preference to his eldest brother and granted the title of Tengku Mahkota on 1 February 1948. He was formally invested at the Istana Balai Besar, Kota Bharu, 19 June 1948. He succeeded on the death of his father on 9 July 1960. He was installed at the Istana Balai Besar, Kota Bharu, 10 December 1960, and crowned there by the Tengku Panglima Raja on 17 July 1961. He became Deputy Supreme Head of State Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 22 July 1970, and Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 21 September 1975. He died of a heart attack at Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur on 29 March 1979 and was buried at the Royal Cemetery, Kampung Langgar.

• 1979–2010: Sultan Ismail Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra Sultan. Born at Istana Jahar, Kota Bharu on 11 November 1949, eldest son of Sultan Yahya Petra and Tengku Zainab. He was educated privately and at Sultan Ismail College, Kota Bharu. He was installed as heir apparent (as Tengku Mahkota) on 11 November 1967. He served as regent during the absence of his father from the state (6–25 July 1974; 12 July–28 August 1975; 21 September–29 March 1979). He succeeded on the death of his father on 29 March 1979. He was crowned at Istana Balai Besar, Kota Bharu on 30 March 1980. He was formally deposed in favour of his eldest son by the Kelantan Royal Succession Council of State, on the grounds of incapacity after failing to fully recover from a debilitating stroke on 13 September 2010 (after an amendment to the state constitution gazetted 22 July 2010). Thereafter styled Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Ismail Petra. He died of heart failure at Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, Kota Bharu on 28 September 2019 and was buried at the Royal Cemetery, Kampung Langgar.

21st century

• 2010–present: Sultan Muhammad V, Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Kelantan. Born on 6 October 1969, eldest son of Sultan Ismail Petra and his wife, Tengku Anis binti Tengku Abdul Hamid. He was educated at Sultan Ismail Satu School in Kota Bharu, Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur, Oakham School in Rutland, the St Cross College, Oxford, the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, the Deutsche Stiftung für internationale Entwicklung in Berlin, and the European Business School, London. He was appointed as heir apparent (as Tengku Mahkota) on 6 October 1985 and installed at Istana Balai Besar, Kota Bharu on 6 October 1987. He was appointed as regent on behalf of his incapacitated father who suffered a stroke in May 2009. He was formally installed as regent and acting Sultan of Kelantan on 25 May 2009. He succeeded on the incapacitation of his father on 13 September 2010. He became Deputy Supreme Head of State Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 13 December 2011, and Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 13 December 2016. He married his first wife Tengku Zubaidah binti Tengku Norudin (born 1979) and they divorced in 2008. His second marriage to Che Puan Nur Diana Petra Abdullah (born 1988) was on 30 October 2010 and she was proclaimed as Sultanah on 2 August 2022. He married his third wife, Oksana Voevodina (born 1992) in Kota Bharu, Kelantan on 7 June 2018, divorced only a year later in 2019.

List of modern Kelantan sultans (1899–present)

Name	Duration of reign	Portrait (Coronation, when available)	Birth Date, location, parents	Birth Name	Marriage	Death	Age	House
20th century
Muhammad IV Sultan Muhammad IV ibni al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad III 10 February 1899 — 23 December 1920	21 years, 318 days		23 May 1870 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, British MalayaSon of Sultan Muhammad III ibni al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad and Tengku Ampuan Sofia binti al-Marhum Tengku Putih		Sultanah Zainab binti Nik Muhammad Amin 1888 9 children	23 December 1920 Kota Bharu, Kelantan	50 years, 214 days	Long Yunus
Ismail Sultan Ismail ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV 23 August 1920 — 20 June 1944	23 years, 303 days	—N/a	20 August 1880 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, British MalayaSon of Sultan Muhammad IV ibni al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad III and Sultanah Zainab binti Nik Muhammad Amin		Tengku Petri binti Tengku Long 1910 2 children	20 June 1944 Istana Jahar, Kota Bharu, Kelantan	63 years, 305 days	Long Yunus
Ibrahim Sultan Ibrahim ibni al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad IV 21 June 1944 — 9 July 1960	16 years, 19 days	—N/a	9 October 1897 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Unfederated Malay StatesSon of Sultan Muhammad IV ibni al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad III and Sultanah Zainab binti Nik Muhammad Amin		Tengku Zainab binti Tengku Zainal Abidin 1914 3 children Tengku Yah binti Tengku Long Sulaiman 2 children Embong binti Daud 6 children Siti 5 children Safiah 5 children Habibah 3 children	9 July 1960 Istana Sri Cemerlang, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Federation of Malaya	62 years, 274 days	Long Yunus
Yahya Petra Sultan Yahya Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim 10 July 1960 — 29 March 1979	18 years, 263 days		10 December 1917 Istana Balai Besar, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Unfederated Malay States, British MalayaSon of Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV and Che Puan Besar Embong Binti Daud	Tengku Yahya Petra ibni Tengku Ibrahim	Tengku Zainab binti Tengku Muhammad Petra 1939 7 children Tengku Alexandria binti Tengku Yusof 3 children	29 March 1979 Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	61 years, 109 days	Long Yunus
Ismail Petra Sultan Ismail Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra 30 March 1979 — Abdicated 13 September 2010	31 years, 168 days		11 November 1949 Istana Jahar, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, MalayaSon of Sultan Yahya Petra Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim and Tengku Zainab binti Tengku Muhammad Petra	Tengku Ismail Petra ibni Tengku Yahya Petra	Tengku Anis binti Tengku Abdul Hamid 1968 4 children Elia Suhana binti Ahmad 2007–2010	28 September 2019 Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia	69 years, 321 days	Long Yunus
21st century
Muhammad V Sultan Muhammad V 13 September 2010 — Present	15 years, 249 days		6 October 1969 Istana Batu, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, MalaysiaSon of Sultan Ismail Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra and Tengku Anis binti Tengku Abdul Hamid	Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra ibni Tengku Ismail Petra	Tengku Zubaidah binti Tengku Norudin (née Kangsadal Pipitpakdee) 2004–2008 Sultanah Nur Diana Petra Abdullah (née Jana Jakoubková) 2010 Rihana Oksana Gorbatenko 2018–2019 1 child	Alive	56 years, 225 days	Long Yunus

Timeline of Kelantan monarchs

The Sultan of Kelantan is the important leader of the Kelantan state in Malaysia. Today, the sultan is Muhammad V, who is the 29th person to hold this job. The picture shows the list of all the sultans who have led Kelantan over the years.