Sultan of Perak, Raja Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, passed away today at the age of 86.

In making the announcement, Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir said the ruler died at 1.30pm at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur.

His remains will be taken to the palace in Kuala Kangsar where the public can pay respects tomorrow morning.

He will be buried at the royal mausoleum there after the Asar (mid-afternoon) prayers.

Tomorrow will be a public holiday in Perak as the state will be in mourning.

No entertainment or celebrations will be allowed in the state for seven days until June 4.

The Malaysian flag will also fly at half mast until June 4, while the Perak flag will fly half mast for 100 days, starting today.

"May Allah bless his soul," Zambry said.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is in Beijing to celebrate of 40 years Malaysia-China diplomacy, will board a flight home tonight.

BN Senator Sim Kui Hian, who is with Najib in China, said the PM is expected to arrive in Malaysia tomorrow.

Separately, Selangor state secretary Mohammed Khusrin Munawi said that the Selangor flag will also be flown at half mast until the completion of the burial ceremony.

A lawyer, judge and sportsman

Azlan Shah was sultan of Perak for 30 years and reigned as Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1989 to 1994.

He is survived by his consort Tuanku Bainun Mohd Ali, a prince and three princesses. Another prince, Raja Ashman Shah died on March 30, 2012.

His son Raja Nazrin Shah is the Raja Muda (crown prince) of Perak.

Before becoming the sultan of Perak, Raja Azlan, a lawyer, served as a judge and Lord President of the Federal Court.

In 2009, the late sultan (right) played a key role in the Perak constitutional crisis when he declined then menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin's request to dissolve the state assembly, following defections.

Instead, he directed Nizar to resign as Nizar had lost confidence of the House.

The BN, with support from three defected Pakatan Rakyat assemblypersons, formed a new government, thereby toppling the elected Pakatan government.

The matter was later taken to court with a five-member bench at the Federal Court declaring in 2010 that BN's Zambry was the rightful menteri besar.

The court found that the Perak Constitution gives absolute discretionary powers to the sultan to withhold consent to dissolve the state assembly.

Raja Azlan also made significant contributions to the sport of hockey, and was president of the Asian Hockey Federation and an executive board member of the International Hockey Federation.

The Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament is hosted annually in the Perak capital of Ipoh.

Succession

The Perak royalty is unique in that the successor is not necessary, and often is not, the son of the late sultan.

According to the official Sultan Perak Office website, the new sultan will be decided by the state's Dewan Negara.

The Dewan Negara consists of six of the Perak titled Raja, Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir and state mufti Harussani Zakaria. It also comprises 10 other formal members and 11 non-formal members, including a non-Muslim, Darshan Singh Gill.

Six men are eligible for the throne - the Raja Muda or the crown price - a post held by the late Sultan Azlan’s eldest son Raja Nazrin- Raja di Hilir, Raja Kechil Besar, Raja Kechil Sulung, Raja Kechil Tengah and the Raja Kechil Bungsu.

They are representatives of three families - two from each family.

By convention, the Raja Muda will ascend to the throne, while the Raja di Hilir will be the new Raja Muda. However, traditionally the Raja Muda is not the son of the reigning sultan so it would be unprecedented if Raja Nazrin ascends to the throne.

According to the Perak constitution, the new monarch must be named before Sultan Azlan's burial.

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