Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah recalls tragic memories from father’s demise 40 years ago

As our 17th king begins his reign on Jan 31, 2024, the date has a deeper meaning to Her Majesty as Sultan Idris Shah II died on that day in 1984

As His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar begins his reign as the 17th King of Malaysia yesterday, the date also brings tragic memories to Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah (pic), as Her Majesty recalls the death of her father, Sultan of Perak Sultan Idris Shah II, 40 years ago on the same date. – Bernama pic, February 1, 2024

JOHOR BAHRU – While January 31, 2024, marks the beginning of a new chapter for His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar who took the oath as the 17th King of Malaysia yesterday,  the date also brings sad memories to Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia. 

Their Majesties will never forget the date because it was on that day in 1984 that Raja Zarith Sofiah’s father, Sultan of Perak Sultan Idris Shah II, died. 

“January 31, 1984, was the day my father the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Idris Shah II, died. (That was) 40 years ago. 

“When he died, I was four months pregnant with my first child, Tunku (Mahkota) Ismail, and it was very difficult for me. I was sad that my father did not get to see my eldest son. Al-Fatihah,” said Her Majesty in a post on the official Facebook of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar. 

Sultan Ibrahim took the oath of the 17th King of Malaysia in a ceremony steeped in tradition at the Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur. 

His Majesty replaces Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah whose term as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong ended on January 30. – February 1, 2024