The Sultan who circumnavigated the globe in a vintage car
In short: Before ascending to the throne of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah was a high-seas sailor and endurance racer. From circumnavigating the world on a yacht to racing a 1932 Ford across continents, his path to the monarchy was defined by a restless, adventurous spirit.
Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah ascended to the throne of Selangor in November 2001, succeeding his father, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah. His journey to the monarchy was marked by significant public service and education; he served in the Kuala Lumpur police department and the Selangor State Secretariat before his installation as the 8th Raja Muda in 1970. He also held high-ranking roles as the Pro-chancellor of MARA University of Technology (2000–2005) and has served as the chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia since 2002.
Beyond his administrative duties, Sharafuddin is noted for a distinctively adventurous personal history. In 1995, he spent 22 months circumnavigating the world on his yacht, SY Jugra, a feat that preceded his coronation. His endurance was further demonstrated in 1997 when he completed the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge in a 1932 Ford Model B, covering 16,000 km in 43 days to win a silver medal. He also famously drove a Proton Saga from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching in just two days in 1986.
His reign has been characterized by a firm stance on state honors and political shifts. He has frequently revoked titles from individuals involved in financial fraud or court scandals, including a businessman in 2007 and former transport minister Chan Kong Choy in 2011. He also presided over the 2008 general election, which saw the first non-Barisan Nasional government take control of the state assembly. Despite his royal status, he has faced public scrutiny regarding family interests in forest reserves, leading to the cancellation of certain development plans in 2020.
theme perspective
mood reflective
difficulty 2 topics [
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Sharafuddin of Selangor
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-sharafuddin-of-selangor.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Empires & civilisations · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
