Sirajuddin of Perlis

Sirajuddin ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail (Jawi: توانكو سيد سراج الدين ابن المرحوم توانكو سيد ڤوترا جمل الليل; born 17 May 1943) is the current Raja of Perlis, reigning since 2000. He reigned as the twelfth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) from 2001 to 2006.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin was born in Arau, Perlis, the second of ten children of Raja Putra of Perlis and Raja Perempuan Budriah. He studied at the Arau Malay School until standard two, then from 5 January 1950 he continued his primary education at Wellesley Primary School in Penang followed by Westland Primary School until the end of 1955. Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin began his secondary education at Penang Free School on 9 January 1956 and later left for England to study at Wellingborough School for four years until 1963. He underwent training as a cadet officer at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, England, from January 1964 until December 1965.

Upon his return from England, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin served with Malaysia's Ministry of Defence. His first post was as second lieutenant in the 2nd Regiment of the Malaysian Reconnaissance Corps on 12 December 1965. In 1966, he was transferred to Sabah and then to Sarawak in 1967. He then served in Pahang for several years until he resigned on 31 December 1969 to return to Perlis. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in December 1967.

In 1970, he served in the armed forces again, as Captain of the Local Territorial Army from 16 November 1970 until 1 October 1972. He was promoted to major on 1 October 1972. Currently, he is the Commanding Officer of Regiment 504 of the Army Reserve Unit with the rank of colonel.

On 30 October 1960, Sirajuddin was made the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Perlis while he was still a student at Penang Free School. At that time, his father, Putra was carrying out his duties as the 3rd Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Sirajuddin was installed as the 12th raja of Perlis on 17 April 2000, the day after the death of his father, Putra who had been the raja since 1945, and was the world's longest reigning monarch at the time.

Continuing the tradition of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong rotation, Sirajuddin was elected as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong. His term began on 13 December 2001. This was earlier than expected because the previous and 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Salahuddin of Selangor, died in office on 21 November 2001 while his term should have ended in 2004. At that time, he was the fastest ruler to become the Yang di-Pertuan Agong from his accession to his state's throne, at 1 year and 241 days (record now held by Sultan Abdullah of Pahang). Tuanku Sirajuddin's term ended on 12 December 2006.

On 15 February 1967, he married Tuanku Tengku Fauziah (born 6 June 1946) at Kota Bharu, Kelantan, daughter of Tengku Temenggong Tengku Abdul Rashid ibni Almarhum Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah of Terengganu, by his wife Tengku Petri binti Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim of Kelantan, who became the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis. Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin was appointed for the first time as the Regent of Perlis when the Raja of Perlis and the Raja Perempuan of Perlis travelled to the United States and Europe from 23 June 1967 until 24 October 1967.