"Pretender" to the Malaccan throne

Recently, the malaysian newspaper has been reporting on a man who claimed to be the 44th Sultan of Malacca. Its interesting to read the story because, he claimed the throne based on the "royal regalia" he had with him... The thing is, just because he had the royal regalia, does it mean that he had a right to the throne? Afterall, the Malacaan Sultanate had fell in 1511, so it is very unlikely that he would be installed as the Sultan, even if he is a real descendent of the Malaccan Sultan... But the amazing thing is that, he had his own investiture ceremony which over 500 people attended. Anyone who even think of doing this in Brunei for sure wouldnt get far... need i say more... heheh ....



KUALA LUMPUR, November 16th 2005: A 48-year-old man who proclaimed himself the Sultan of Malacca at a so-called investiture ceremony here on Monday night is willing to take the matter to court to stake his claim to the state’s “throne”.

Raja Noor Jan Shah Raja Tuah has evidence, and the regal artefacts, to prove the claim, said Azri Safian, who identified himself as the alleged ruler’s organising secretary.

“He is serious about being installed as the 44th sultan of Malacca,” Azri told reporters at Raja Noor Jan’s purported ceremonial hall in Gombak here yesterday.

More than 500 guests attended the “investiture” ceremony at a community hall in Taman Melati, where 150 people were also bestowed honorific titles.

Two of the four wives of the property businessman, who has given himself the title Sultan Ahmad Shah, accompanied him at the Istiadat Watikah Gelar Adan Kesultanan Melaka ceremony, which came ahead of the Rulers Conference in Malacca on Nov 21.

Azri said Raja Noor Jan had claimed he was a descendant of the last known Sultan of Malacca, Sultan Mahmud Shah (1488-1511).

He said Raja Noor Jan would hand over his documents for the rulers to discuss at their meeting. Another ceremonial gathering would be held on Nov 19 in Malacca, he added.

“We have the regalia, like two keris, a silver buckle, a royal crown and brooches from ancient Malacca and authenticated by the Museum and Antiquities Department,” he said.

Letters and profiles relating to the claim had been sent to the Rulers Council, the Yang di Pertuan Agong and the Sultan of Perak as well as the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Malacca.

“These items are proof to be presented to the Rulers Council,” he said. ” So far, we have not received any response.”

The Museum and Antiquities Department had authenticated the sultan’s genealogy, Azri said, adding that this further proved his claim.

Azri said the “sultan” had not pursued his claims until the regal instruments unexpectedly turned up two months ago.

“The sultan received some signs from his ancestors on the whereabouts of the regalia and, with the help of a pawang (traditional soothsayer) the artefacts were dug up from a place in Malacca,” he said.



KUALA LUMPUR, November 19th 2005:: Property businessman Raja Noor Jan Shah Raja Tuah Shah has left it to the Rulers Council, which meets on Nov 21 in Malacca, to discuss his claim to the state's “throne”.

“I respect the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the others who protect the rights of the Malay Rulers.

“But I think my claim should be debated at the meeting since I have shown my royal regalia as proof,” he told reporters at his ceremonial hall, Balairong Melaka, in Gombak yesterday.

Raja Noor Jan, who calls himself “Sultan Ahmad Shah”, claimed to be a descendant of the last known ruler of the Malacca sultanate, Sultan Mahmud Shah (1488-1511).

He said that he was hopeful that his claim would be taken up and debated by the council. He hopes to be installed as the 44th Sultan of Malacca.

He said letters and profiles relating to the claim were sent to the King on Nov 11 and to the council on Nov 16.

He hoped the relevant authorities would be “open” to studying his claim.

The alleged ruler's special duty official, Abdul Latif Daud, clarified that the Museum and Antiquities Department had not authenticated the regalia, which included two keris, a silver buckle, a royal crown and brooches from ancient Malacca forwarded to it but had merely admitted receiving them for authentication.

He said the “sultan” had no qualms about going for a DNA test, if required, to proof his claim that he was related to the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.




PETALING JAYA, December 22nd 2005: Self-proclaimed “Sultan” of Malacca, Raja Noor Jan Shah Raja Tuah, has set up his own “palace” in Malacca, with a team of officials, to meet people he calls his “loyal subjects”.

His secretary Azri Sapian said the “palace” at Bukit Punggor was a gift from the people.

“There could not have been a better choice than a 70-year-old traditional Malacca house,” he said yesterday.

Property businessman Raja Noor Jan Shah, 48, claims to be a direct descendant of Sultan Mahmud Shah and the 44th Sultan of Malacca.

He held an “investiture ceremony” with 500 guests in Kuala Lumpur last month.

His claim to the throne, however, has been dismissed by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.



Kuala Lumpur, June 5th 2006: IF his story were true, the man claiming to be the 44th Sultan of Malacca certainly had good reason to be miffed on Saturday, according to Kosmo!

Raja Noor Jan Shah claimed that he received an invitation to attend a tea reception at the Istana Negara but when he got there he was denied entry.

Expecting a royal treatment, Raja Noor and his seven-member entourage, including his wife Che Puan Muda Zaidatul Mardiah, were instead told by palace guards to leave the grounds immediately.

Raja Noor, dressed in his yellow royal outfit, then went to the Kosmo! office to complain.

Citing what had happened, Raja Noor said an officer claiming to be from the Prime Minister's Department handed the invitation to his office in Gombak two weeks ago.

He said his entourage joined 50 other guests at the palace's main entrance at 4.15pm but when he showed the guards the invitation card he was told to leave.

“I was really embarrassed and did not have the chance to say anything. The other guests were staring at me,” he said.

“I would not have come if I had not been invited. I want an explanation,” said Raja Noor, who was shown holding up the invitation card.

All Information Taken from The Star, malaysian newspaper
www.thestar.com.my & pictures from http://forum.cari.com.my/viewthread.php?tid=194006

He claimed to be the descendent:

Sultan Mahmud mempunyai putera bernama Sultan Muzzaffar Shah I yang memerintah negeri Perak (1528-1549) sehingga kepada Sultan Perak Ke-22, Sultan Abdullah Muhamad Shah I Marhum Durian Sebatang (1851-1857) dan dari keturunan inilah munculnya Sultan Ahmad Shah Ke-44 yang bakal menjadi Sultan Melaka itu.