Pahang’s Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah died at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur at 8.50am today.
The sad news was announced by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail through a media statement.
Sultan Ahmad Shah, 89, was the fifth Sultan of Pahang and the father of the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
He passed the Pahang throne to Sultan Abdullah on Jan 12.
Born at Istana Mangga Tunggal in Pekan on Oct 24, 1930, Sultan Ahmad Shah was the third child and only son of Sultan Abu Bakar and his consort Raja Ampuan Fatimah Sultan Iskandar Shah.
He received his early education at the Malay School in Pekan and continued his secondary education at Malay College Kuala Kangsar in Perak.
After the Second World War, he continued his studies at the Clifford School in Kuala Lipis.
He pursued his higher education in public administration at Worcester College, Oxford University, and Exeter University, Devon, in the UK.
He was appointed Tengku Mahkota (Crown Prince) Pahang in 1944 when he was just 14 years old.
He was also appointed as the Regent of Pahang on several occasions, namely in 1956, 1959 and 1965, when Sultan Abu Bakar was abroad.
Sultan Ahmad Shah was proclaimed as the fifth Sultan of Pahang on May 7, 1974, following the death of his father and the coronation ceremony was held at the Throne Room, Istana Abu Bakar, Pekan on May 8, 1975.
Sultan Ahmad Shah was elected as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 21, 1975, and later became the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong from April 26, 1979, to April 25, 1984.
Sultan Ahmad Shah married Tengku Hajah Afzan Tengku Muhammad on April 22, 1954, and was blessed with two sons and five daughters, namely, Tengku Tan Sri Meriam, Tengku Datuk Seri Muhaini, Tengku Datuk Seri Aishah Marcella, Sultan Abdullah, Tengku Abdul Rahman, Tengku Datuk Nong Fatimah and Tengku Datuk Shahariah.
After the death of Tengku Afzan on June 29, 1988, Sultan Ahmad Shah married Sultanah Hajah Kalsom on March 14, 1991, and was blessed with another son, Tengku Fahd Mu’adzam Shah.
The Sultan was known as a keen sportsman who loved football, golf and polo. He was the Football Association of Malaysia president from 1984 to 2014.
Sultan Ahmad Shah had been ill for some time and thus an amendment to the state constitution was made to allow the Pahang royal council to conduct his abdication earlier this year.
His eldest son Al-Sultan Abdullah was subsequently proclaimed the sixth Sultan of Pahang of the modern era on Jan 15, 2019, paving the way for him to become the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.