Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram

Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram (born 28 August 1966) is the eldest son of Sulu Sultan Mohammed Mahakuttah Abdullah Kiram (reigned 1974–1986). He became the Head of the Royal House of Sulu on 16 February 1986. As the eldest son of the former Sultan, he is the legitimate heir claimant to the throne of the Sultanate of Sulu.

Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram was born on 28 August 1966 on the island of Jolo in present-day Philippines, the eldest son of Mohammed Mahakuttah Abdullah Kiram, 34th Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo and his first wife Dayang-Dayang Farida Tan-Kiram.

Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram studied at Universidad de Zamboanga in Zamboanga City where he got his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Between 1995 and 1996, he continued his higher studies in Islam in Lahore, Pakistan. Currently, he is also involved as a local civic leader on the island and Sulu in general, regularly meeting with the local population.

He is married to Ampun Babai Mellany S Kiram and has seven children:

1. Maharaja Adinda Moh. Ehsn S. Kiram
2. Datu Nizamuddin S. Kiram
3. Dayang-Dayang Rahela S. Kiram
4. Datu Jihad S. Kiram
5. Datu Mujahid S. Kiram
6. Dayang-Dayang Redha S. Kiram
7. Datu Mahakuttah S. Kiram

Adopted Children and their Spouse:

1. Datu Cheong Ming Lam
2. Dayang-Dayang Yoke C. Looi

Coronation

Datu Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram was crowned as Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Sulu on 24 May 1974 beside his father in Sulu, under Memo Order 427, which was issued by President Ferdinand Marcos, President of Philippines. Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram was the last recognised Raja Muda (Crown Prince) by the Philippine government. Whereas, Memo Order 427 states that "The Government has always recognised the Sultanate of Sulu as the legitimate claimant to the historical territories of the Republic of Philippines". On 15 August 1974 Sultan Moh. Mahakuttah A. Kiram submitted the organisational structure of the Sultanate of Sulu to the President of Philippines. The above named structure confirmed that Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram was the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Sulu. Raja Muda Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram later crowned Sultan in a coronation event on the island of Jolo on 16 September 2012.

The Royal and Hashemite Order of the Pearl

Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram awards the Royal and Hashemite Order of the Pearl, established in 2011.

Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram has been recognised by a number of Royal Houses and received other awards

• Grand Cross, Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Georgia)
• Grand Cordon, Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam (Vietnam)
• Grand Cordon, Order of the Ethiopian Lion
• Royal Order of the Engabu (Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara - Uganda)
• Honorary Cross, Royal and merciful Society of Belgium
• US President's Lifetime Achievement Award
• Order of Primus inter Pares by the Scientific Consortium of Moscow State University
• Honorary Professor of Leadership from the Central American Institute of Asia Pacific Studies
• Accademico d'Onore Classe Speciale - Real Academia Sancti Ambrosii Martyris Italia (www.academiasanctiambosii.it).

• "Distinguished Members of the ORDER OF THE EAGLE OF GEORGIA AND THE SEAMLESS TUNIC OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (Royal House of Georgia)". Royal House of Georgia. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
• "Members of The Order of the Engabu". ARKBK CLBG Official Website. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 

Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram is the grandson of the 33rd Sultan of Sulu, Mohammed Esmail Kiram (1950–1973). Sultan Muwallil Wasit II (1936) was his great grandfather and Sultan Jamalul Kiram II (1893–1936) was his great granduncle. Which means Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram is a direct male descendant and the legitimate heir to throne of the Sultanate.

Ancestry

Patrilineal descent

Ampun Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram clearly and emphatically decried these actions led by Jamalul Kiram III and false pretenders to the throne in a press release and on a Malaysiakini TV interview.