Last modified: 8 February 2024
The country
The state is formally known as Kelantan Darul Naim, but usually called Kelantan.
In Kelantan settlements from the prehistoric times can be found. The area was linked to the Funan Kingdom, the Khmer Empire, the Srivijaya Empire, the Majapahit Empire and Siam. The ruler of Kelantan, Raja Kumar, became independent from Siam around 1411. Kelantan became a vassal state of the Sultanate of Malacca in 1499, and after its fall in 1511 was divided and the Kelantan chiefs afterwards became subject to the Patani Kingdom. Long Yunus unified the present-day Kelantan around 1760. In 1909 Kelantan became one of the Unfederated Malay States and got a British adviser. The Japanese invaded the country in December 1941, and then handed over the control of Kelantan to Siam. In August 1945 Kelantan became under British rule again. In 1948 Kelantan became part of the Federation of Malay, and in 1963 became one of the states of Malaysia.
Sovereign
The current sovereign is Muhammad V, 29th Sultan of Kelantan. He was born at Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, on 6 October 1969, as Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra. He was appointed the heir apparent on 30 March 1979, and was installed on 6 October 1985.
He is the son of Ismail Petra, 28th Sultan of Kelantan (1949-2019) and his first wife Tengku Anis binti Tengku Abdul Hamid (born 1949).
Enthronement
Sultan Muhammad V succeeded his father. He had been appointed as a regent on 24 May 2009 after his father suffered a stroke, and officially installed as regent on 25 May 2009. The Kelantan Royal Succession Council of State officially proclaimed him the new Sultan after the deposition of his father, at the Balairong Sri, Istana Balai Besar, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, on 13 September 2010.
He was elected the deputy Yang di Pertuan-Agong in October 2011, and served from 13 December 2011 to 13 December 2016. He was elected the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 14 October 2016, and began his five-year term on 13 December 2016. He abdicated surprisingly on 6 January 2019.
Other details
The country’s motto is Berserah Kepada Tuhan Kerajaan Kelantan, which means Kelantan is entrusted to God.
The Sultan is a Muslim.
Marriage and descendants
Sultan Muhammad V married in 2004 Tengku Zubaida binti Tengku Nur ud-din (born 1979). They got divorced (in 2009?) and didn’t have any children.
He married Jana Jakoubková, from Czechia, in 2010. On 2 August 2022 she was proclaimed Che Puan Nur Diana Petra Abdullah, the Sultanah of Kelantan.
He married Oksana Voevodina in 2018. They got divorced in 2019. She took the name of Rihana.
Their son (not recognised by the father):
- Tengku Ismaïl Leon (born 2019).
Heir to the throne
The heir to the throne of Kelantan is Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra. He was born at Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, on 7 April 1978.
He is the son of Ismail Petra, 28th Sultan of Kelantan (1949-2019) and his first wife Tengku Anis binti Tengku Abdul Hamid (born 1949).
He was granted the title of Tengku Temenggong in March 1997. He was stripped of his title in September 2010. In April 2022 he was conferred the title of Tengku Bendahara. He was appointed the heir apparent (Tengku Mahkota) on 4 January 2024.
Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra married in 2008 (divorced 2009) Manohara Odelia Pinot, born Manohara Odelia Manz (born 1992).
Postal address
Istana Negeri
Kubang Kerian
Kelantan
Malaysia
Succession
The succession of the throne is according to the right of the first born male. The Sultan and his successor must be of Islamic faith. He is the Head of the Religion of Islam in the state and that he is the source of all honours and dignities in the state
The Council of Succession is responsible for confirming the Succession to the Throne and Sovereignty of Kelantan, which means that a crown prince not automatically succeeds to the throne. They are also responsible for determining whether there is a vacancy in the throne by reason of the prolonged absence from the state of the reigning Sovereign. The crown prince could be the ruler or regent when the Sultan is abroad for a period of more than 12 months or unable to carry to out his duties as the ruler over the same period.
Titles
The Sultan is Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia al-Sultan dan Yang di-Pertuan Bagi Negara Kelantan Dar ul-Naim and is styled His Royal Highness. His royal consort is Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Perempuan Negara Kelantan Dar ul-Naim and is styled Her Royal Highness. The heir apparent is Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Tengku Mahkota Negara Kelantan Dar ul-Naim and is styled His Highness. His royal consort is Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Tengku Ampuan Mahkota Negara Kelantan Dar ul-Naim, and styled Her Highness. The non-royal consort of the heir apparent is Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Tengku Puan Mahkota Negara Kelantan Dar ul-Naim, and styled Her Highness. The heir presumptive is Yang Amat Mulia Tengku Bendahara Negara Kelantan Dar ul-Naim, and is styled His Highness. The regent is Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Pemangku Raja Negara Kelantan Dar ul-Naim, and is styled His Highness. Other male members of the family in male line are Yang Mulia Tengku … (personal name) bin … (father’s title and name), and female members of the family in male line are Yang Mulia Tengku … (personal name) binti … (father’s title and name). Junior wives of a Sultan, the heir apparent and other princes are Yang Mulia Che’ … (personal name) binti … (father’s title and name).
The Sultans of Kelantan of the Terengganuean Dynasty
| Ahmad (before 1831-1890) | 1886-1890 |
| Muhammad III (1845-1891) | 1890-1891 |
| Mansur (1870-1899) | 1891-1899 |
| Muhammad IV (1870-1920) | 1899-1920 |
| Ismail (1880-1944) | 1920-1944 |
| Ibrahim (1897-1960) | 1944-1960 |
| Yahya Petra (1917-1979) | 1960-1979 |
| Ismail Petra (1949-2019) | 1979-2010 |
| Muhammad V (1969- ) | 2010- |