Major General Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim (; born 30 June 1984), is the

heir apparent An heir apparent is a person who is first in the order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person. A person who is first in the current order of succession but could be displaced by the birth of a more e ...

to the Johor throne. He is the eldest son of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar and

Raja Zarith Sofiah Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah (; born 14 August 1959) is the Queen of Malaysia (Raja Permaisuri Agong) and the Permaisuri of Johor as the wife of Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar. She was born as a member of ...

. Ismail is the

Regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

(Pemangku Sultan) and

Crown Prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title, crown princess, is held by a woman who is heir apparent or is married to the heir apparent. ''Crown prince ...

(Tunku Mahkota) of

Johor Johor, also spelled Johore,'' is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia in the south of the Malay Peninsula. It borders with Pahang, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan to the north. Johor has maritime borders with Singapore ...

. He became the

of Johor upon the accession of his father to the throne as the 17th

Yang di-Pertuan Agong The King of Malaysia, officially ''Yang di-Pertuan Agong'' ( Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ), is the constitutional monarch and Figurehead, ceremonial head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957, when the Federation of Malaya gained ...

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

on 31 January 2024. He was officially proclaimed the Regent of Johor on 28 January 2024.

Early life and education

Tunku Ismail completed his early education at Sekolah Sri Utama and Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan St. Joseph in

Johor Bahru Johor Bahru, abbreviated as JB, is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Johor. It is the core city of Johor Bahru District, Malaysia's second-largest district by population and the second-largest district economy. Covering an area of ...

. He subsequently received lower secondary education at the Australian International School in

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

and continued with his higher secondary studies at Hale School in

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

, until 2002. Tunku Ismail is the eldest among six siblings. Like his father, Tunku Ismail has no tertiary (academic) qualification. Following a family tradition of getting trained in armed forces, with his late grandfather in the

Malaysian Army The Malaysian Army (; Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ) is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ () as do the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysi ...

and father in the

US Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...

, Tunku Ismail aspired for a career in the

Indian Armed Forces The Indian Armed Forces are the armed forces, military forces of the India, Republic of India. It consists of three professional uniformed services: the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force.—— Additionally, the Indian Ar ...

.Malaysian Prince to Lead Indian Army Unit in Republic Day paradeIndia Defence
23 January 2007. In July 2003, he enrolled as a cadet officer in the

Indian Military Academy The Indian Military Academy (IMA) is one of the oldest military academies in India, and trains officers for the Indian Army. Located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, it was established in 1932 following a recommendation by a military committee set up ...

(IMA), India's premier military training school located at

Dehradun Dehradun (), also known as Dehra Doon, is the winter capital and the List of cities in Uttarakhand by population, most populous city of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous Dehradun district, d ...

. He was commissioned as a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

in December 2004 and absorbed into the

Indian Army The Indian Army (IA) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Land warfare, land-based branch and largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Commander-in-Chief, Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head ...

. He was promoted to the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

in December 2007.Malaysia's Pride On Show At India's Republic Day ParadeBERNAMA
26 January 2007. His father and grandfather also had trained at IMA.Johor Ruler's Grandson Appointed Raja Muda

Bernama The Malaysian National News Agency (), is a news agency of the government of Malaysia. It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Communications. Headquartered at the Wisma Bernama, off Jalan Tun Razak near National Library, Kuala Lumpur ...

. 8 April 2006.

Prince of Johor

Tunku Ismail was appointed Raja Muda (literally means "Younger King",Johor Ruler's Grandson Appointed Raja Muda
bernama.com. 8 April 2006. but taken to mean as second heir apparent or son of the Crown Prince) on 8 April 2006 by his grandfather, the late

Sultan of Johor The Sultan of Johor (Malay language, Malay: ''Sultan Johor''; Jawi script, Jawi: ) is a hereditary seat and the sovereign ruler of the Malaysian state of Johor. In the past, the sultan held absolute power over the state and was advised by a '' ...

, and placing him second in line to the throne (Now first in line after the passing of Sultan Iskandar).Tunku Mahkota's son named Raja Muda of Johor

The star online
Star Publications, 9 April 2006. Tunku Ismail was appointed as the Tunku Mahkota of Johor on 28 January 2010. The Malaysian prince is the first foreigner to lead a unit of the Indian Army in the Indian

Republic Day Parade The Delhi Republic Day parade is the largest and most important of the parades marking the Republic Day celebrations in India. The parade takes place every year on 26 January at Kartavya Path, New Delhi. It is the main attraction of India's R ...

.Malaysian prince at home in IndiaThe Hindu
27 January 2007Malaysian prince at Republic Day parade

The star online
, Star Publications, 25 January 2007 On 26 January 2007, with a rank of captain in Indian Army, he led a mounted column of

Jaipur Jaipur (; , ) is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and the List of cities and towns in Rajasthan, largest city of the north-western States and union territories of India, Indian state of Rajasthan. , the city had ...

-based 61 Cavalry regiment to salute

president of India The president of India (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, and the commander-in-chief, supreme commander of the Indian Armed ...

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam during the

Republic Day Republic Day is the name of a holiday in several countries to commemorate the day when they became republics. List January 1 January in Slovak Republic The day of creation of Slovak republic. A national holiday since 1993. Officially calle ...

celebrations. The

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

himself chose Tunku Ismail to lead the unit of around 400 men of the world's only non-ceremonial horse-mounted

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

. The parade was witnessed by chief guest of the day

president of Russia The president of Russia, officially the president of the Russian Federation (), is the executive head of state of Russia. The president is the chair of the State Council (Russia), Federal State Council and the President of Russia#Commander-in-ch ...

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...

and his entourage, along with other dignitaries of Indian politics and military amidst tight security.M'sian Prince To Lead Cavalry Unit At India's Republic DayBERNAMA
24 January 2007. Tunku Ismail's father Tunku Ibrahim Ismail flew in from

on 23 January 2007 to be present at the celebrations while his son added a chapter to the history of the Indian Army. He is noted for his religious moderation and veiled criticism of more conservative Muslims who denounced him for shaking hands with women in 2016. On 13 December 2023, Tunku Ismail was proclaimed as the Pro Chancellor of Kolej Universiti Islam Johor Sultan Ibrahim (KUIJSI) at the university's 21st convocation at the Johor Persada International Convention Centre.

Other activities

Sports

polo Polo is a stick and ball game that is played on horseback as a traditional field sport. It is one of the world's oldest known team sports, having been adopted in the Western world from the game of Chovgan (), which originated in ancient ...

enthusiast, Tunku Ismail is a skilful horse rider. He was bestowed the ''Best in Riding'' award among IMA cadets between 2003 and 2004. He is also a polo player for his regiment and has won many trophies. In football, he is the owner of Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C.. The prince is also a sports car enthusiast. All of his cars are registered under the same licence plate of "TMJ", an abbreviation from the title ''Tunku Mahkota Johor'' which is also his nickname as addressed informally by Malaysians within and outside Johor. His Royal Highness the Tunku Mahkota (Crown Prince) of Johor, Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim has been appointed as the President of

Johor Football Association Johor Football Association (JFA; ) is the governing body of Association football, football for the state of Johor, Malaysia. JFA is responsible for coordinating and developing football in Johor, and has teamed up with the Football Association o ...

(PBNJ). The EGM held in Johor Bahru saw the Crown Prince appointed as the new president replacing the former, Jais Sarday. Among his plans to help bring back Johorean football to its former glory, the Crown Prince merged the Johor teams (which previously were Johor FC, MBJB and MP Muar) into only one where all of the players wear the ''Jengking'' (Scorpion) Team Jersey. . Tunku Ismail's leadership on the club Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C also oversaw its success as the first Southeast Asian club to lift the

AFC Cup The AFC Champions League Two (abbreviated as the ACL Two or ACL2) is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation. It is the second-tier competition of Asian club football, ranked below the AFC C ...

2015 2015 was designated by the United Nations as: * International Year of Light * International Year of Soil __TOC__ Events January * January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...

. In 2014, the

Football Association of Malaysia The Football Association of Malaysia (commonly abbreviated as FAM; ) is the national governing body of football in Malaysia, headquartered at Wisma FAM. The FAM is also one of the founding members of both the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) a ...

(FAM) appointed the Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim as an advisor to the previous FAM president, his uncle, Sultan

Abdullah of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (; ; born 30 July 1959) is the sixth modern Sultan of Pahang. Abdullah was born during the reign of his grandfather, Abu Bakar of Pahang, Sultan ...

. Tunku Ismail assisted and worked hand in hand with FAM in improving the quality of football within the country, particularly with the national team as well as the junior teams. As predicted, there were several concerns about the news, particularly with Tunku Ismail having lost the FAM presidency election to Tengku Abdullah earlier that year. Besides that, he had been extremely vocal with his criticisms on the nation's footballing body. However, the then Johor FA president was extremely optimistic about the new role, claiming that he will only be pushing for the betterment of football within the country. He was elected as President of FAM for a short term from 2017 to 2018.

Controversies

Crowne Plaza incident

In the early hours of 24 October 2008, a confrontation occurred between members of the

and

Negeri Sembilan Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan''), historically spelled as Negri Sembilan, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state in Malaysia which lies on the Peninsular Malaysia#Other features, wes ...

royal families at a nightclub in

Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...

. The incident began when a bottle was allegedly thrown by a member of the Johor royalty at Tunku Nadzimuddin Tunku Muzaffar, a 36-year-old prince from the Negeri Sembilan royal family, and his friends. The Johor group left shortly after, while Tunku Nadzimuddin's group continued their night out.RM50 million battle royale
, Fay Angela D'cruz, 2009/09/18, New Straits Times Around 3 AM, Tunku Nadzimuddin received a call from someone claiming to be a member of the Johor royal family. The caller said that Tunku Ismail wanted to apologize for the earlier incident and invited Tunku Nadzimuddin to the Crowne Plaza hotel in Jalan Sultan Ismail. Out of respect, Tunku Nadzimuddin agreed and went to the hotel with his friends. Upon arrival at the hotel, Tunku Nadzimuddin and his friend, Sham Shuddhuha, a 40-year-old lawyer, were allegedly dragged into an elevator by bodyguards of the Johor royal family. The rest of their friends were stopped in the lobby. In the elevator, they encountered Tunku Ismail, who was reportedly armed with a gun. Tunku Ismail allegedly began assaulting Tunku Nadzimuddin with the gun while his bodyguards attacked Sham Shuddhuha. The two men were then taken to Room 2523, where they were allegedly confined. Tunku Nadzimuddin suffered a fractured nose, while Sham Shuddhuha fell unconscious and lost two teeth. Taking advantage of a moment alone, Tunku Nadzimuddin sent a text message to his mother, Tunku Dara Naquiah Tuanku Jaafar, asking for help. Tunku Dara Naquiah contacted the police and rushed to the hotel with her brother and four police officers. After initially being stopped by bodyguards, they gained access to the room and took Tunku Nadzimuddin to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment. On 24 October 2008, Tunku Nadzimuddin filed a police report about the incident.Royal brawl: Negri prince disappointed, but A-G promises action (Update)
17 September 2009, The Star (Malaysia), Archive:https://web.archive.org/web/20180618130045/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2009/09/17/royal-brawl-negri-prince-disappointed-but-ag-promises-action-update/ The case attracted attention due to its involvement of royal family members and raised questions about legal immunity for royalty. The police began an investigation, eventually recording statements from 41 witnesses. In the months following the incident, the Negeri Sembilan royal family expressed frustration with the perceived lack of progress in the investigation. By September 2009, nearly a year after the event, no charges had been filed against Tunku Ismail or his bodyguards. The Attorney-General, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, stated that the case was still under investigation and that he would make a decision soon, emphasising the need for care and caution in such sensitive matters. Up until today, there was no update to the case.

Assault of e-haling driver

On 28 May 2024, a deaf Grab driver named Ong Ing Keong was waiting to collect passengers outside the St Regis Hotel in Kuala Lumpur when he was allegedly assaulted by a member of Tunku Ismail's security team. The incident occurred when Ong was asked to move his vehicle as the royal entourage was departing the hotel lobby. A dashcam video later revealed that a man, believed to be a police officer accompanying Tunku Ismail, shouted at Ong before punching him in the face when Ong lowered his window to communicate. Following the incident, Ong sought treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital for soft tissue injuries and lodged a police report at the

Brickfields A brickfield is an open site where bricks are made. Place names are often formed from the word. Brickfield, Brickfields, or Brickfielder may also refer to: Australia * Brickfielder, an arid wind * Brickfield Hill, an area of Sydney * Brickfields ...

police station around 13:00 on the same day. The case was initially classified under Section 323 of the Penal Code for causing injury. However, later that evening, around 21:59, Kuala Lumpur police chief Rusdi Mohd Isa reported that Ong had filed a second report stating he did not wish to pursue the matter further, describing it as a "misunderstanding" that had been settled amicably. This turn of events raised suspicions of a potential

cover-up A cover-up is an attempt, whether successful or not, to conceal evidence of wrongdoing, error, incompetence, or other embarrassing information. Research has distinguished personal cover-ups (covering up one's own misdeeds) from relational co ...

. It was later revealed by the Malaysian Deaf Advocacy and Well-being Organisation (DAWN) that Ong had actually filed only one report, while the police had prepared three additional reports which Ong signed without fully understanding their contents. DAWN also alleged that Ong was pressured at the police station to either accept compensation from a palace representative or face having his phone confiscated if the case went to court. On 31 May, Ong denied withdrawing his initial police report and clarified the circumstances surrounding the additional reports. Meanwhile, Tunku Ismail issued a statement urging a thorough investigation while also claiming there was a "movement" attempting to tarnish the royal institution's reputation. The case gained renewed attention on 14 August 2024, when rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) released the dashcam footage of the incident during a press conference. LFL lawyers criticised the lack of action against the perpetrator despite clear video evidence, which had been in police possession since the day of the incident. Pressure was mounting on the police and

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...

to take action, with various parties, including the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), calling for transparency and justice in the case. Up until today, there was no update to the case.

Relationship with Syed Saddiq

The relationship between Tunku Ismail and Muar MP

Syed Saddiq Syed Saddiq bin Syed Abdul Rahman (; born 6 December 1992) is a Malaysian politician and convicted criminal who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Muar since May 2018. He served as the Minister of Youth and Sports in the Pakat ...

has been fraught with tension since Syed Saddiq won his seat in the 2018 general election. In April 2019, Syed Saddiq claimed that Tunku Ismail had made political demands before and after the election, including a request to cancel

Manny Pacquiao Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao Sr. ( ; ; born December17, 1978) is a Filipino politician, businessman, and professional boxer. Nicknamed "PacMan", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time. He previously serv ...

's boxing match in July 2018, which Syed Saddiq felt he could not fulfil. In December 2018, Tunku Ismail publicly criticised Syed Saddiq for sending birthday wishes to his brother, telling him to "save your sucking up for other people". The conflict continued into 2021, with Tunku Ismail describing Syed Saddiq as a

populist Populism is a contested concept used to refer to a variety of political stances that emphasize the idea of the " common people" and often position this group in opposition to a perceived elite. It is frequently associated with anti-establis ...

politician in June of that year. Tunku Ismail stated that the country needs honest, innovative, and dedicated politicians, implying that Syed Saddiq did not meet these criteria. In response, Syed Saddiq thanked Tunku Ismail for his concern about Muar's residents and stated he was open to criticism and suggestions. The situation escalated in September 2021 when Tunku Ismail made a statement suggesting that Syed Saddiq should "jump off KLCC without a parachute" to get his attention. This comment, made during an Instagram Q&A session. Previously, Tunku Ismail had accused Syed Saddiq of being a "drama queen" when the latter started a

crowdfunding Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising money from a large number of people, typically via the internet. Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing and Alternative Finance, alternative finance, to fund projects "withou ...

campaign to cover his legal expenses in July 2021.

Personal life

On 24 October 2014, Tunku Ismail married Che' Puan Mahkota Khaleeda at Istana Bukit Serene in a private ceremony. The solemnisation ceremony was performed by Johor mufti Dato' Mohd Tahrir Samsudin. The royal wedding reception took place at the Istana Besar on 8 November 2014. The couple's first child is a daughter, Tunku Khalsom Aminah Sofiah, born on 25 June 2016. Their second child, a son, Tunku Iskandar Abdul Jalil Abu Bakar Ibrahim, was born 14 October 2017. A third child and second son, Tunku Abu Bakar Ibrahim, was born on 17 July 2019. A fourth child and second daughter, Tunku Zahrah Zarith Aziyah, was born on 21 April 2021. He is also a half third cousin of Sultan Nazrin Shah, the current

Sultan of Perak The Sultan of Perak (, Jawi script, Jawi: ) is the Constitutional monarchy, constitutional monarch and head of state of the Malaysia, Malaysian state of Perak. It is one of the oldest hereditary seats among the Malay states. The current Sultan o ...

since both share a common male ancestor Idris Shah I of Perak. He is also a grandnephew as well as nephew by marriage of Al-Sultan Abdullah, the current Sultan of

Pahang {{Infobox political division , name = Pahang , official_name = Pahang Darul Makmur , native_name = , settlement_type = States and federal territories of Malaysia, State , image_skyline = , imagesize ...

and an 11th cousin of Tengku Muhammad Ismail, the Crown Prince of

Terengganu Terengganu (; Terengganu Malay: ''Tranung'', formerly spelled Trengganu or Tringganu) is a sultanate and States and federal territories of Malaysia, federal state of Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, ''Dāru l-Iman (c ...

since they both share a common male ancestor Tun Habib Abdul Majid Al-Aydrus.

Titles and styles

Tunku Ismail's full style and title in Malay: ''Tunku Mahkota Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, D.K., S.P.M.J, S.S.I.J, S.M.J., P.I.S, Pemangku Sultan Johor'' in English: ''His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, D.K., S.P.M.J, S.S.I.J, S.M.J., P.I.S, Regent of Johor''

Honours

First Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I) (8 April 2009) * Most Esteemed Royal Family Order of Johor - ribbon bar

Second Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK II) (8 April 2006) * Order of the Crown of Johor ribbon bar

Knight Grand Commander of the

Order of the Crown of Johor The Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Johor ( Malay: ''Darjah Mahkota Johor Yang Amat Mulia'') is an Order of chivalry awarded by the Sultan of Johor. It was first instituted on July 31, 1886. It is awarded in three classes: *Knight Grand Co ...

(SPMJ) – Dato' (8 April 2005) * Order of the Crown of Johor ribbon bar

Companion of the

(SMJ) (8 April 2004) * MY-JOH Order of Loyalty of Sultan Ismail of Johor ribbon bar

Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty of Sultan Ismail of Johor (SSIJ) – Dato' (22 November 2010) * Order_of_Sultan_Ibrahim_of_Johor-Darjah_Sultan_Ibrahim_Johor_SMIJ_DMIJ_SIJ