# Muhriz of Negeri Sembilan

Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir (Jawi: توانكو محرز ابن المرحوم توانكو مناور‎ ; born 14 January 1948) is the eleventh Yang di-Pertuan Besar (Chief Ruler) of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. He is the only son out of six siblings of royal spouse, the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Munawir and his spouse, Tunku Ampuan Durah.

## Early life

Tunku Muhriz is the only son out of six children of Tuanku Munawir ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan from 1960 to 1967, and of his consort, Tunku Ampuan Durah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin.
Born in 1948, Tunku Muhriz received his primary & secondary education Tuanku Muhammad School, Kuala Pilah and the Tunku Besar School in Tampin, the King George V School in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan and later at the Aldenham School in the United Kingdom.
Tunku Muhriz obtained a degree in law (LLB) from the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth (later known as the University of Wales, Aberystwyth).
He began his career in an international bank in Malaysia and became a director and shareholder of a company licensed as brokers in interbank foreign exchange and in the currency deposits market (1973–1986). He was the chairman and shareholder of a Malaysian joint venture with a worldwide advertising agency (1981–1992), chairman and director of a joint venture company involved in the manufacturing of building products (1995–1998) and a director and shareholder of a company engaged in electrical engineering and construction (1995–present). He has been on the board of directors of Bangkok Bank since 2006.

## Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti (1961 – 2008)

Tuanku Muhriz was made Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti (the highest ranked of the Putera Yang Empat) in 1961, following the death of his grandfather Tunku Besar Burhanuddin.
Tuanku Muhriz was first in the order of succession before the death of Tuanku Munawir, followed by Tunku Nasir Alam (the Tunku Laksamana), Tunku Ja'afar (the Tunku Muda Serting) and Tunku Abdullah (the Tunku Panglima Besar). When Tuanku Munawir died in 1967, Tuanku Muhriz was not chosen. Instead the council chose his half-uncle Tuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, a diplomat. It has been suggested that the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, influenced the Undangs not to choose Tuanku Muhriz on account of his youth (he was then only nineteen). However, he was bypassed by the Council of Undangs to become Yang di-Pertuan Besar when his father died in 1967 for his half-uncle, Tuanku Ja'afar.
The Negeri Sembilan Constitution states that the Undangs should elect a suitable and competent ruler first from the sons of the deceased ruler, followed in order from the brothers, then paternal uncles, grandsons, brothers' sons, and paternal uncles' sons of the deceased ruler.

## Marriage

On 16 February 1973, the royal engagement between the Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti Tunku Muhriz who was 25 years old and the Terengganu princess Tengku Aishah Rohani, took place at the Istana Terengganu in Jalan Pekeliling, Kuala Lumpur.
At the time, Tunku Muhriz was working as a junior administrative bank officer at Bank Rakyat whilst Tengku Aishah Rohani was a clerk at a local bank in Malaysia.
On 25 April 1974, he married Tengku Aishah Rohani. Their royal marriage was held at the Istana Maziah, Kuala Terengganu and was witnessed by Tunku Muhriz's mother, Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Ampuan Durah along with other members of the Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu royal family.
On 4 May 1974, Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Ampuan Durah held a royal couples' traditional departure ceremony (istiadat keberangkatan pulang pengantin diraja) at the Istana Lama Seri Menanti.

## Royal family

Tuanku Muhriz is married to Terengganu princess Tengku Aishah Rohani and the royal couple have three sons: Tunku Ali Redhauddin, Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin and Tunku Alif Hussein Saifuddin Al-Amin.
* His Highness Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin was born on 26 April 1977 at University Hospital, Putrajaya.
* His Highness Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin was born on 6 July 1982 at University Hospital, Putrajaya.
* His Highness Tunku Alif Hussein Saifuddin Al-Amin was born on 3 September 1984 with lack of Vitamin K on his brain. He died on 15 January 2016 at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz following an illness. He was 31 years old. He was buried at the Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum in Kuala Pilah.

## Yang di-Pertuan Besar (2008 – Present)

On 29 December 2008, The Council of Undang proclaimed him as the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan succeeding Tuanku Ja'afar who had died on 27 December 2008. Many prominent Malaysians backed Tuanku Muhriz to succeed as the Ruler of Negeri Sembilan in view of his modest and dignified personality and by the fact that he had a successful corporate career. He was also the rightful heir, by tradition, to the throne on the death of his father.
Due to having kept a low profile, Tuanku Muhriz was largely unknown outside royal circles in Negeri Sembilan. However, Tuanku Muhriz was not an underdog in the negotiations that was played out for the position of Yang di-Pertuan Besar. During the closed discussions to elect the successor to Tuanku Ja'afar, at least two, if not all four of the Undangs strongly championed his candidacy. They refused to budge when it was suggested that they consider Tunku Naquiyuddin, Tuanku Ja'afar's eldest son, instead as the next Ruler of Negeri Sembilan.
Throughout his life Tuanku Muhriz established and maintained strong ties with the Undangs, the general nobility, the lesser royalty and people of Negeri Sembilan, and more so since moving back to the state. He also has powerful backers within the political establishment in the state, with the former Menteri Besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad among his supporters.
There has been a quiet campaign by his loyal supporters at state and federal level to portray him as a well-spoken and well-educated man; someone who had the great strength of character to put aside the disappointment of not being appointed Ruler of the state in 1967: and who continues to lead a dignified and respectable life.
His supporters said that in contrast to members of Tuanku Ja'afar's family, Tuanku Muhriz shuns publicity and though he can be very progressive in his outlook, he seems more rooted in traditional ways. Tuanku Ja'afar's family were said to be completely devastated with the decision of the Undangs to select Tuanku Muhriz over Tunku Naquiyuddin. They too had several powerful politicians in their camp but the Undangs were not to be swayed.

## Colonel in Chief

Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz is the Colonel in Chief of Royal Signals Regiment (Malaysia) and Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer (Malaysia).

## Styles and honours

* 14 April 1948 - 4 April 1960: His Highness Tunku Muhriz ibni Tunku Munawir
* 5 April 1960 - 5 July 1961: His Highness Tunku Muhriz ibni Tuanku Munawir
* 6 July 1961 - 14 April 1967: His Highness Tunku Muhriz ibni Tuanku Munawir, Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti
* 15 April 1967 - 28 December 2009: His Highness Tunku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti
* 29 December 2009 - present: His Royal Highness Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan
The style of Tuanku Muhriz is:
   His Royal Highness Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan

### Honours

He was awarded:
* Negeri Sembilan:
** Royal Family Order of Negeri Sembilan Grand Master (since 29 December 2008) and Member (25 February 2009)
** Grand Master and Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Yam Tuan Radin Sunnah (since 29 December 2008)
** Recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (PPT)

### Malaysia

* Malaysia:
** Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN)
* Johor:
** First Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I)
* Kedah:
** Member of the Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK) (13 May 2010)
* Kelantan:
** Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Kelantan or Star of Yunus (DK) (23 Mac 2010)
* Perak:
** Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Perak (DK) (5 March 2009)
* Perlis:
** Recipient of the Perlis Family Order of the Gallant Prince Syed Putra Jamalullail (DK)
* Selangor:
** First Class of the Royal Family Order of Selangor (DK I) (11 December 2009)
* Terengganu:
** Member first class of the Family Order of Terengganu (DK I)

## Ancestry

Ancestors of Muhriz of Negeri Sembilan :