Muhammad of Negeri Sembilan
Tuanku Sir Muhammad Shah ibni Almarhum Tuanku Antah GCMG KCVO (25 April 1865 – 1 August 1933) was the seventh Yamtuan Besar of Seri Menanti, who ruled from 1888 to 1933. During his reign, Negeri Sembilan came under British protection in 1889 and became a Federated Malay State in 1895.
| Muhammad | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_02.jpg.webp) Tuanku Muhammad Shah (seated) with his bodyguards, 1903. | |||||
| Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan | |||||
| Reign | 29 April 1888 - 1 August 1933 | ||||
| Installation | 7 May 1888 | ||||
| Predecessor | Tuanku Antah | ||||
| Successor | Tuanku Abdul Rahman | ||||
| Born | 25 April 1865 Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan, British Malaya | ||||
| Died | 1 August 1933 (aged 68) Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan, Federated Malay States, British Malaya | ||||
| Burial | |||||
| Issue | Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Abdul Rahman Tunku Laksamana Nasir Alam Shah Tunku Muhammad Alam Shah | ||||
| |||||
| Dynasty | Pagaruyung - House of Yamtuan Raden | ||||
| Father | Tuanku Antah ibni Almarhum Tuanku Radin | ||||
| Mother | Cik Halima binti Uggoh | ||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||
In June 1887, he was declared as Yam Tuan as recognised by British Authority. Sir Tuanku Muhammad Shah re-established the traditional constitution with the four Undang (Lawgivers) and, on 29 April 1898, he was duly elected by the four Undang as Yang-di-Pertuan Besar; the first election under the modern re-constituted Negeri Sembilan. He was installed on 7 May 1898 [1] at Seri Menanti.
After a reign of 45 years, in 1933, he died at the age of 68 years. He was buried at the Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum at Seri Menanti.
He is regarded as The Father of Negeri Sembilan modernisation. After his death, an English school in Kuala Pilah Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tuanku Muhammad was renamed after him in his honour. This school is the second oldest school in Negeri Sembilan, along with its twin in Johor, Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar & High School Batu Pahat were found in 1914 respectively.
He was the only Yamtuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan to have received the title 'Sir' from Queen Victoria. He was also the longest-serving monarch of Negeri Sembilan in the state's history. Tuanku Muhammad was also the only Yamtuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan to be involved in Durbar (Conference of Rulers) of Malay Federated States, with Sultan Idris of Perak, Sultan Abdul Samad of Selangor & Sultan Ahmad of Pahang. He is one of the Kings who found the Malaysia's first residential college, The Malay College Kuala Kangsar. His great-grandson, Tuanku Ja'afar would go on to study there as a teenager.
Tuanku Muhammad oversaw the building of both the Istana Lama Seri Menanti (presently the Royal Museum of Seri Menanti), and the Istana Besar Seri Menanti.
Death
Tuanku Muhammad died on 1 August 1933, shortly before 3pm at the Istana Lama Seri Menanti.[2] Shortly after his death, his brother the Tunku Besar Burhanuddin summoned the Penghulus of Luak Tanah Mengandung (the area around Seri Menanti), comprising the Datos of Ulu Muar, Jempol, Terachi and Gunung Pasir. This was then followed by a 22-gun salute.[2]
The four principal Lembagas of Ulu Muar then conveyed the news of the Tuanku's passing to the four Undangs.[2]
His body was left to lay in state the day after his death. He was buried on the third day after his death following the proclamation of his successor. The coffin was transported from the Istana on a specially-adapted lorry drawn by the Pegawai Sembilan-puluh sembilan, accompanied by the Orang Ampat Astana and the Ulama. The traditional Maharaja di-raja ceremonial carriage led the procession, carrying the Treasurer and dispensers of Sadaqah. The procession by the mourners was, in order: the newly-proclaimed Yang di-Pertuan Besar, Tuanku Abdul Rahman; senior members of the royal family; the anak putra putri with the chiefs and representatives of other Rulers and of high Government officials; other mourners; and the late-King's subjects. A 68-gun salute, corresponding to Tuanku Muhammad's life was fired.[2]
Tuanku Muhammad was succeeded by his eldest and the then-Tunku Muda Serting, Tunku Abdul Rahman as the eighth Yang di-Pertuan Besar, having been unanimously chosen by the four Undang.[2]
Honours
United Kingdom :
Honorary Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) (1 January 1894)- Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) - Sir (3 June 1916)[3]
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) - Sir (10 July 1925)- Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) - Sir (1 January 1931)[4]
Gallery
Tuanku Muhammad Shah. The Tuanku Ja'afar Royal Gallery, Seremban
Government House, Singapore on 27 Mar 1890 : Yam Tuan Muhammad of Negeri Sembilan seated far right.jpg.webp)
Tuanku Muhammad Shah, 1897, seated centre
1st Malayan Durbar (Federal Conference) 14 July 1897 in Kuala Kangsar; YamTuan Muhammad Shah seated second from right_01.jpg.webp)
H.H. The Yam Tuan of Negri Sembilan and other chiefs, 1903.
References
- Birch, Ernest Woodford (1906). "Election and Installation of Tungku Muhammad, C.M.G. Bin Tungku Antah, as the Yang Di Per Tuan Bĕsár, Negri Sembilan". Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 46: 9 - 22.
- BRYSON, H. P.; BLELLOCH, I. W. (1936). "Record of the ceremonial followed at the death and funeral of Yang Di-pertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhammad, G.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., ibni al-Marhum Yam Tuan Antah, and at the proclamation of his son Tunku Abdu'l-Rahman as his successor. August the 1st and 3rd, 1933". Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 14 (3 (126)): 272–279. ISSN 2304-7550.
- "No. 29608". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1916. p. 5557.
- "No. 33675". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1930. p. 5.