Unique to the cradle of Malay culture

The mural up close..

The unique Kelantan sultanate has been in existence since the early 13th century. It has remained strong despite colonisation by several powerful empires in the region over the years.

The sultanate has prevailed because of its strong Malay traditions and Islamic approach.

Kelantan is regarded as the “cradle of Malay culture” and has been ruled by 29 Sultans up to the present day.

The Kelantan sultanate had been led by Sultans and Rajas of the Malay Kingdom of the Jambi Dynasty (between the 13th and 16th centuries), Champa Dynasty (between the 16th and 18th centuries) and Pattani Dynasty (since the 18th century).

The present genealogy of the Kelantan sultanate can be traced back to the descendants of Long Yunus Long Sulaiman, an aristocratic warlord of Pattani origin, who ruled Kelantan circa 1765-1795.

Based on Kelantan’s palace records, the state faced a crisis after the death of Long Yunus. There was a power struggle between Long Muhammad (Long Yunus’ son) and his brother-in-law Tengku Muhamad on who was the rightful heir to the throne.

The records showed that the dispute was a result of the failure of Long Yunus to name a successor. He could not decide who among his seven sons should replace him.

Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid accompanied by palace officials and guards at Kota Baru’s Sultan Ismail Petra airport to send off her son Sultan Muhammad V, who was to take over as the nation’s 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in December last year.

Long Yunus’s son-in-law, Tengku Muhamad, was appointed as acting Sultan for 100 days to fulfil Long Yunus’ wish to be entombed in a royal mausoleum and to enable the state government to function.

However, after the 100 days, Tengku Muhamad refused to hand over the throne to a successor, leading to a conflict between him and Long Muhammad. The feud ended in Long Muhammad’s favour, enabling him to ascend the throne at the start of the 19th century.

In the early annals of recorded history, Kelantan was first ruled by a woman called Cik Siti Wan Kembang, who established a kingdom at Gunung Chinta Wangsa, Ulu Kelantan.

Believed to be unmarried, she was said to have reared two mousedeer as pets. Later, the image of a mousedeer was imprinted on gold coins that were used as legal tender in the state. The same image later became part of the coat of arms of the present Kelantan government.

During the reign of Cik Siti, Raja Sakti ruled another kingdom called Jembal. After the king died, his son Raja Loyor ascended the throne in 1649 and had two children, including Puteri Saadong.

Cik Siti was on good terms with Raja Loyor, especially after she adopted Puteri Saadong as her heir apparent. After that, there were power struggles through the century until Long Yunus’s son Long Muhammad (Sultan Muhammad I) became the first Sultan of Kelantan.

Sultan Muhammad I was accepted by the Siamese as ruler of a separate tributary, 12 years later.

It was touching to see His Majesty Sultan Muhammad V bidding farewell after kissing the hands of his mother Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid before departing for Kuala Lumpur to assume his official duties as the nation’s new King in December last year.

In 1909, a treaty between the Siamese and the English was signed and Siamese rulers gave up their claims over a number of territories, including Perlis, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan. In the end, Kelantan became one of the states in Malaya, with a British adviser who was also its administrator.

During World War II, the Japanese invaded Kelantan on Dec 8, 1941, and fully occupied the state within two weeks. They transferred Kelantan to Thai control in 1943.

The state was freed from Japanese occupation on Sept 8, 1945, and became a state of the Federation of Malaya on Feb 1, 1948. It joined the other states of the peninsula to form the Federation of Malaya on Aug 31, 1957, and became a state of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963.

Incapacitated by illness, Sultan Ismail Petra Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra was replaced by his eldest son and crown prince Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra following a proclamation by the State Succession Council in September 2010.

The new Sultan is officially addressed as Sultan Muhammad V because the name had been used by his ancestors.

Sultan Muhammad V meeting well-wishers at Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa in December last year, before leaving for Kuala Lumpur.

On Dec 13 last year, the Kelantan Ruler left Kota Baru for the federal capital to ascend the throne as the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Sultan Muhammad V was elected as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by the Conference of Rulers at its 243rd meeting in October. The ceremonial send-off of the Sultan from Istana Negeri, Kubang Kerian, was steeped in tradition.

His mother, Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid, the Regent and Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan, Tengku Dr Muhammad Faiz Petra, and Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob were among the dignitaries who accompanied Sultan Muhammad V to the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa to see him off.

Thousands of people of various races, waving the Kelantan flag and the Jalur Gemilang, lined the 14km route from Istana Negeri to the airport.

The motorcade proceeded to the airport through Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, Jalan Pekeliling and Jalan Tok Guru.

Sultan Muhammad V meeting government servants at Istana Kubang Kerian after he was proclaimed the new Sultan of Kelantan in September 2010.

Cultural performances were staged at 11 locations along the route.

The special aircraft carrying Sultan Muhammad V and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, as the minister-in-attendance, took off at 9.12am.

Known for his no-protocol approach, Sultan Muhammad V has won the hearts of the Kelantan people.

Seen as a unifying factor, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will continue drawing much love, support and respect from his subjects.