Yahya Petra of Kelantan


Yahya Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim was Sultan of Kelantan from 1960, and the sixth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the constitutional monarch of Malaysia, from 1975, until his death in 1979.

Early life

He was born on 10 December 1917, as Tengku Yahya Petra at the Istana Balai Besar in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. He was the second son of Sultan Ibrahim by his third wife, Cik Embong binti Encik Daud.
Tengku Yahya Petra was raised by his childless uncle, Tengku Ismail. He was sent to the Francis Light School in Penang before continuing his studies in England. His uncle, Sultan Ismail, appointed him Tengku Temenggong Kelantan on 21 July 1939. He was later promoted to Tengku Bendahara Kelantan on 6 February 1945 by his father, Sultan Ibrahim. He served in various Kelantan civil service posts from 1941 to 1948.

Kelantan succession dispute

Tengku Indra Petra was the eldest son of Sultan Ibrahim and elder brother of Sultan Yahya Petra. After Sultan Ibrahim succeeded his brother Sultan Ismail, Tengku Indra Petra was appointed heir apparent with the title of Raja Muda Kelantan on 25 October 1944. However, due to conflict with his father, he was dismissed from the post and removed from the line of succession by his father's decree on 1 February 1948. On the same day, Sultan Yahya Petra replaced his brother as heir apparent with the new title of Tengku Mahkota Kelantan.
Tengku Indra Petra became a politician and was elected a Member of Parliament in the 1955 Malayan general election. Tengku Indra's descendants have since disputed their family's exclusion from Kelantan's line of succession.
Tengku Indra Petra did not preside over the installation of Sultan Yahya Petra's successor, Sultan Ismail Petra, It was Tengku Panglima Raja Tengku Ahmad who presided over the installations of Sultan Yahya Petra and Sultan Ismail Petra.

Accession

Sultan Yahya Petra succeeded his father a day after the latter's death on 9 July 1960. He was crowned on 17 July 1961 at Istana Balai Besar in Kota Bharu.

Election as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Sultan Yahya Petra served as the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the federal deputy king, between 21 September 1970 and 20 September 1975.

Election as Yang di-Pertuan Agong

During the election of the sixth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the most senior ruler Sultan Ismail of Johor declined to be considered. Sultan Yahya Petra also declined nomination at first due to having suffered a serious stroke, but changed his mind and was duly elected. His term began from 21 September 1975.

Kingship

Malaysia's second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein died on 14 January 1976 less than four months into Sultan Yahya Petra's reign as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
In 1977 a state of emergency was declared in his own state following a political crisis and violence.

Death and funeral

Sultan Yahya Petra died of an apparent heart attack at 3:45 pm at the National Palace on 29 March 1979. His coffin lay in state at the National Palace for a day and was then taken by plane to Kota Bharu where it was buried at the Kelantan Royal Mausoleum.

Family life

He married Tengku Zainab binti Tengku Sri Utama Raja Tengku Muhammad Petra, who was styled Raja Perempuan Zainab II and Raja Permaisuri Agong on 4 June 1939. Sultan Yahya Petra and Raja Perempuan Zainab II had one son and six daughters. However, two of their daughters died when they were young. He was also married to Tengku Alexandria binti Tengku Yusof and was given a son and two daughters.

Awards and recognitions

Sultan Yahya Petra held the rank of Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Honours of Kelantan

  • Recipient and Grand Master of the Royal Family Order of Kelantan or "Star of Yunus"
  • Knight Grand Commander and Grand Master of the Order of the Crown of Kelantan or "Star of Muhammad"
  • Knight Grand Commander and Grand Master of the Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan or "Star of Ismail"
  • Founding Grand Master and Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Loyalty to the Crown of Kelantan or "Star of Ibrahim"
  • Grand Master of the Order of the Most Distinguished and Most Valiant Warrior

Honours of Malaysia

Foreign

Places named after him

Several places were named after him, including: