1. Overview
Tengku Ampuan Hajah Afzan Rahimahallah binti Almarhum Tengku Panglima Perang Tengku Muhammad (Jawi: تڠكو امڤوان حاجه افزان رحمة ﷲ بنت المرحوم تڠكو ڤڠليما ڤراڠ تڠكو محمدMalay) was the Queen consort of Pahang, holding the title of Tengku Ampuan. Born on 4 December 1932 as Tengku Afzan binti Tengku Muhammad, she later served as the seventh Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia from 26 April 1979 to 25 April 1984. She passed away on 29 June 1988 at the age of 55.
2. Life
Tengku Ampuan Hajah Afzan's life was marked by her royal lineage, education, marriage into the Pahang royal family, and her significant roles as Queen of Pahang and later as the Queen of Malaysia.
2.1. Birth and Childhood
Tengku Afzan was born on 4 December 1932 in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu. She was the fourth child of Tengku Panglima Perang Tengku Muhammad Mu'azzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Sir Ahmad al-Mu'azzam Shah and Tengku Hajah Mandak binti Tengku Haji Mustaffar. Her paternal grandfather was Almarhum Sultan Ahmad al-Mu'azzam Shah, who was the first Sultan of Pahang. Her father served as the Chief Minister of both Terengganu and Pahang before returning to Pahang to hold the same position.
2.2. Education
Tengku Hajah Afzan received her early formal education at the Malay Girls' School in Pekan. In addition to her schooling, she also received private tuition in English, which further enhanced her education.
2.3. Marriage and Becoming Queen
On 22 April 1954, at the age of 22, Tengku Afzan married Tengku Ahmad Shah, who was then the Crown Prince of Pahang. The marriage ceremony took place in Kuala Lipis. Following her marriage, she became the Tengku Puan (Crown Princess) of Pahang. She and Tengku Ahmad Shah had seven children: two sons and five daughters. Their children are Tengku Meriam, Tengku Muhaini, Tengku Aishah Marcella, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, Tengku Abdul Rahman, Tengku Nong Fatimah, and Tengku Shahariah.
In 1974, when Tengku Ahmad Shah ascended to the throne of Pahang as the Sultan, Tengku Afzan was formally enthroned as his queen consort, styled as Tengku Ampuan of Pahang.
2.4. Raja Permaisuri Agong
Tengku Ampuan Hajah Afzan served as the seventh Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) from 26 April 1979 until 25 April 1984. During this period, her husband, Sultan Ahmad Shah, served as the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia). Her tenure as Raja Permaisuri Agong marked a significant period in Malaysian royal history, where she fulfilled her duties as the consort to the supreme head of state.
3. Death
Tengku Afzan passed away on 29 June 1988 at 8:42 AM at Istana Pahang, located in Kuala Lumpur. She was 55 years old at the time of her death, which was attributed to cancer. Her death occurred notably close in time to other family bereavements: she died one week after her mother-in-law, Almarhumah Tengku Ampuan Besar Raja Fatimah binti Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Shah Kaddasullah, and her own mother, Tengku Hajah Aishah Mandak binti Tengku Mustafa, passed away one week after her. Tengku Afzan was laid to rest at the Pahang Royal Mausoleum, which is situated near the Abu Bakar Royal Mosque in Pekan, Pahang.
4. Awards and Recognitions
Throughout her life, Tengku Ampuan Hajah Afzan received numerous honours, awards, and recognitions, both from the state of Pahang and from national and foreign entities.
4.1. Honours of Pahang
She was bestowed with several prestigious honours from the state of Pahang:
The insignia of the Family Order of the Crown of Indra of Pahang (DK I) - Member 1st class of the Family Order of the Crown of Indra of Pahang (DK I)**: Conferred on 6 May 1975.
The insignia of the Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) - Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP)**: This honour granted her the title of Dato' Sri.
The insignia of the Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) - Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP)**: Conferred on 29 May 1972. This honour formerly carried the title of Dato, which was later changed to Dato' Indera.
4.2. National and Sultanal Honours
As the wife of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, she received a significant national honour:
The insignia of the Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN) - Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN)**: Conferred on 29 May 1979, during her tenure as Raja Permaisuri Agong.
4.3. Foreign Honours
Her international recognitions included:
- First Class of the Order of Tudor Vladimirescu**: Awarded by Romania on 25 November 1982.
5. Legacy and Commemoration
Tengku Ampuan Hajah Afzan's legacy is preserved through various places and institutions named in her honour, reflecting her lasting impact and memory.
5.1. Commemorative Places
Several significant locations and institutions bear her name, serving as a tribute to her:
- Tengku Ampuan Afzan Mosque in Kuantan, Pahang
- Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan, Pahang
- Institut Tengku Ampuan Afzan, a child development centre located in Kuala Lumpur
- Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Tengku Ampuan Afzan in Kuala Lipis, Pahang
- SM Tengku Ampuan Afzan, a secondary school in Chenor, Pahang
- SMK Tengku Afzan, a secondary school in Kuantan, Pahang
- SMKA Tengku Ampuan Hajjah Afzan, a secondary school in Jerantut, Pahang
- Maahad Tahfiz Al Quran Wal Qiraat Tengku Ampuan Afzan, located in Pekan, Pahang
- Taman Tengku Ampuan Afzan, a residential area in Lanchang, Pahang