Ahmad Shah III

Born 24 October 1930 at Istana Mangga Tunggal, Pekan, Pahang. he was the only son of Sultan Sir Abu Bakar Riayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdullah Al-Mutassimu Billah Shah (reigned 1932–1974) by his official and royal consort, Tengku Ampuan Besar Fatimah binti Almarhum Sultan Sir Alang Iskandar Shah II Kaddasullah.

A student of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar, he received diplomas in public administration from Worcester College, Oxford and the University of Exeter. He succeeded his father as sultan in 1974.

His election as the 7th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1979 was marked with controversy as he was said to be at odds with the incoming prime minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. However, the rumours proved to be untrue and he proved to be a keen admirer of the prime minister. Twenty-two years earlier, his father Abu Bakar had failed five times to be elected as the first Agong.

A controversial, headstrong personality, he has often forced his chief ministers in Pahang to resign over minor differences.

His favourite hobby was playing football, golf, polo, and equestrian.

Sultan Ahmad Shah is a keen sportsman and was the President of the Malaysian Football Association (FAM) from 1984 until 2014, the President of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) until 2002 and Asean Football Federation (AFF) 2011.

His official and royal consort, Tengku Ampuan Afzan binti Tengku Panglima Perang Muhammad, a member of the Terengganu royal family, served as his Raja Permaisuri Agong but died of cancer on her return to Pahang on 29 June 1988. Sultan Ahmad Shah's second wife Kalsom binti Abdullah (nee Anita), was designated as the Sultanah of Pahang in 1991.

Building of the Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque in Kuantan, Pahang

As the Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1979 to 1984, Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah was automatically designated under constitutional provisions as the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces, holding the rank of the Field Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, Admiral of the Royal Malaysian Navy and Field Marshal of the Army.

He is today the RMAF's Colonel in Chief and appears in RMAF ceremonies.

He has been awarded :

•  Pahang  :
  • Founding Grand Master and Member (DKP) of the Royal Family Order of Pahang (since 24 October 1977)
  • Grand Master and Member 1st class (DK I) of the Family Order of the Crown of Indra of Pahang (since 1974)
  • Founding Grand Master of the Grand Royal Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SDSA, since 23 October 2010)
  • Founding Grand Master and Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP, since 24 October 1977)
  • Knight Companion (DIMP), Grand Knight (SIMP) and Grand Master of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (since 1974)
  • Sultan Abu Bakar Silver Jubilee Medal (24 June 1957)

•  Malaysia (as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, 29 March 1979 – 25 April 1984) :
  • Recipient of Order of the Royal House of Malaysia (DKM)
  • Recipient (DMN) and Grand Master (1979-1984) of the Order of the Crown of the Realm
  • Grand Master (1979-1984) of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
  • Grand Master (1979-1984) of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia
  • Grand Master (1979-1984) of the Order of Merit of Malaysia
  • Grand Master (1979-1984) of the Order of the Royal Household of Malaysia
•  Johor :
  • First Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I)
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ)
  • Sultan Ismail Coronation Medal (10 February 1960)
•  Kedah :
  • Member of the Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK)
•  Kelantan :
  • Recipient of the Royal Family Order or Star of Yunus (DK)
•  Negeri Sembilan :
  • Member of the Royal Family Order of Negeri Sembilan (DKNS)
•  Perak :
  • Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Perak (DK, 6.5.1975) -- currently :
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Cura Si Manja Kini (the Perak Sword of State, SPCM, ) with title Dato' Sri—currently :
•  Perlis :
  • Recipient of the Perlis Family Order of the Gallant Prince Syed Putra Jamalullail (DK)
•  Selangor :
  • First Class of the Royal Family Order of Selangor (DK I, 16.7.1987)
•  Terengganu :
  • Member first class of the Family Order of Terengganu (DK I)

•  Argentina : Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín (26 September 2006)
•  Brunei :
  • Recipient of Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (DKMB)
  • Senior (Laila Utama) of the Family Order of Brunei (DK)
•  Kuwait : Collar of the Order of Mubarak the Great
•  Romania : Star of the Socialist Republic of Romania 1st class (25 November 1982)
•  Saudi Arabia : Badr Chain (January 1982)
•  South Korea : Grand Order of Mugunghwa
•  United Kingdom : Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (2 June 1953)

Several projects and institutions were named after the Sultan, including:

• Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Campus (Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) branch campus), Bandar Muadzam Shah
• Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Science Secondary School Kuantan (SEMSAS)
• Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang Islamic College (Kolej Islam Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, or KIPSAS)

• Sultan Ahmad Shah State Mosque at Kuantan
• Sultan Ahmad Shah Bridge (Temerloh Bridge) on Federal Route at Temerloh
• Sultan Ahmad Shah II Bridge (Semantan Bridge) on East Coast Expressway at Semantan
• Sultan Ahmad Shah III Bridge (Chenor Bridge) at Chenor
• Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah (formerly Northam Road) in George Town, Penang
• Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Temerloh (formerly Hospital Temerloh) in Maran Road, Temerloh, Pahang

• Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Cup (Charity Shield Malaysia)
• Pusat Kokurikulum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri Pahang