Tengku Mohamad Rizam

Tengku Mohamad Rizam was born at Istana Kota Lama in Kota Bharu, Kelantan on 18 July 1961. He is the eldest of four siblings to Tengku Sri Utama Raja Tengku Abdul Aziz bin Almarhum Tengku Muhammad Hamzah and Tengku Puan Sri Utama Raja Tengku Merjan binti Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra.[4] His father was Malaysia's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1975 to 1978 and to the Netherlands from 1978 to 1982.[5] Tengku Mohamad Rizam's paternal grandfather was Tengku Sri Maharaja Tengku Muhammad Hamzah bin Almarhum Tengku Zainal Abidin, the 12th Menteri Besar of Kelantan. His maternal grandfather was Sultan Yahya Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim, the 27th Sultan of Kelantan and the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.[6]

Tengku Mohamad Rizam began his early education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Ismail (I) in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. He continued his studies at Sekolah Menengah Sultan Ismail in Kota Bharu, Kelantan and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan St. John in Kuala Lumpur. He then studied A-Level at Cheltenham College, England. He graduated from the Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, United States with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) Major in Marketing and obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the United States International University, San Diego, California, United States.

Tengku Mohamad Rizam began his banking career in 1986 and then he retired in 2014 while he was holding the position of Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of RHB Islamic Bank.[7]

On 6 September 2014, Tengku Mohamad Rizam was appointed as the Chairman of the Kelantan State Service Commission (SPN). He was also appointed as the President of the Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIK) on 19 March 2019.[8] He was also the Commander of the 506 Territorial Army Regiment from 2 August 2012 to 1 August 2021 and holds the rank of Brigadier General.[9]

Tengku Mohamad Rizam was appointed as Tengku Sri Jaya Raja of Kelantan in 1999 followed by Tengku Panglima Raja of Kelantan in 2010 and then appointed as Tengku Temenggong of Kelantan on 25 November 2013. He is also a member of State Royal Succession Council of Kelantan (Malay: Ahli Majlis Perajaan Negeri Kelantan).[10]

On 18 July 1991, Tengku Mohamad Rizam married Tunku Noor Hayati, the daughter of the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra.[11]

They have two sons and a daughter named Tengku Nur Qistina Petri, Tengku Abdul Rahman Petra and Tengku Yahya Aziz Petra.

He has been awarded:

•  Kelantan:
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan (SJMK) – Dato' (1999)[12]
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Kelantan (SPMK) – Dato' (2010)[12]
  • Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Kelantan (DK) (2017)[12]
•  Malaysia:
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2017)[12][13]
• Malaysian Armed Forces:
  • Warrior of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PAT)

His wife, Tunku Noor Hayati, Tengku Puan Temenggong Kelantan has been awarded:

•  Kelantan:
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan (DJMK) - Dato' (2012)[12]