Tunku Ismail Idris

Major General Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim (تونكو إسماعيل ابن سلطان إبراهيم; born 30 June 1984) is a member of the Johor royal family who is the Regent (Pemangku Sultan) and Crown Prince (Tunku Mahkota) of Johor as well as the heir apparent to the throne of Johor. He is the eldest son of Sultan Ibrahim and the Permaisuri of Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah. He is also the grandson of both Sultan Iskandar of Johor and Sultan Idris Shah II of Perak.

He became the Regent of Johor upon the accession of his father to the throne as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia on 31 January 2024. He was officially proclaimed the Regent of Johor on 28 January 2024.

He is also a half third cousin of Sultan Nazrin Shah, the current Sultan of Perak since both share a common male ancestor Idris Shah I of Perak. He is also a grandnephew as well as nephew by marriage of Al-Sultan Abdullah, the current Sultan of Pahang and an 11th cousin of Tengku Muhammad Ismail, the Crown Prince of Terengganu since they both share a common male ancestor Tun Habib Abdul Majid.

Early life and education
Tunku Ismail completed his early education at Sekolah Sri Utama and Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan St. Joseph in Johor Bahru. He subsequently received lower secondary education at the Australian International School in Singapore and continued with his higher secondary studies at Hale School in Perth, Western Australia, until 2002. Tunku Ismail is the eldest among six siblings. Like his father, Tunku Ismail has no tertiary (academic) qualification.

Tunku Ismail was appointed Raja Muda (literally means "Younger King", but taken to mean as second heir apparent or son of the Crown Prince) on 8 April 2006 by his grandfather, the late Sultan of Johor, and placing him second in line to the throne (Now first in line after the passing of Sultan Iskandar). Tunku Ismail was appointed as the Tunku Mahkota of Johor on 28 January 2010.

Career and interests
Following a family tradition of getting trained in armed forces, with his late grandfather in the Malaysian Army and father in the US Army, Tunku Ismail aspired for a career in the Indian Armed Forces. In July 2003, he enrolled as a cadet officer in the Indian Military Academy (IMA), India's premier military training school located at Dehradun. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in December 2004 and absorbed into the Indian Army. He was promoted to the rank of captain in December 2007. His father and grandfather also had trained at IMA.

The Malaysian prince is the first foreigner to lead a unit of the Indian Army in the Indian Republic Day Parade. On 26 January 2007, with a rank of captain in Indian Army, he led a mounted column of Jaipur-based 61 Cavalry regiment to salute president of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam during the Republic Day celebrations. The president himself chose Tunku Ismail to lead the unit of around 400 men of the world's only non-ceremonial horse-mounted cavalry. The parade was witnessed by chief guest of the day president of Russia Vladimir Putin and his entourage, along with other dignitaries of Indian politics and military amidst tight security. Tunku Ismail's father Tunku Ibrahim Ismail flew in from Johor Bahru on 23 January 2007 to be present at the celebrations while his son added a chapter to the history of the Indian Army.

A polo enthusiast, Tunku Ismail is a skilful horse rider. He was bestowed the Best in Riding award among IMA cadets between 2003 and 2004. He is also a polo player for his regiment and has won many trophies. In football, he is the owner of Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C..

The prince is also a sports car enthusiast. All of his cars are registered under the same licence plate of "TMJ", an abbreviation from the title Tunku Mahkota Johor which is also his nickname as addressed informally by Malaysians within and outside Johor.

He is noted for his religious moderation and veiled criticism of more conservative Muslims who denounced him for shaking hands with women in 2016.

On 2 December 2022, Tunku Ismail was installed as the Chancellor of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) at the first session of the university’s 22nd convocation at Dewan Sultan Ibrahim.

On 13 December 2023, Tunku Ismail was proclaimed as the Pro Chancellor of Kolej Universiti Islam Johor Sultan Ibrahim (KUIJSI) at the university's 21st convocation at the Johor Persada International Convention Centre.

As President of Johor Football Association
His Royal Highness the Tunku Mahkota (Crown Prince) of Johor, Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim has been appointed as the President of Johor Football Association (PBNJ). The EGM held in Johor Bahru saw the Crown Prince appointed as the new president replacing the former, Jais Sarday. Among his plans to help bring back Johorean football to its former glory, the Crown Prince merged the Johor teams (which previously were Johor FC, MBJB and MP Muar) into only one where all of the players wear the Jengking (Scorpion) Team Jersey. .

Tunku Ismail's leadership on the club Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C also oversaw its success as the first Southeast Asian club to lift the AFC Cup in 2015.

As FAM Presidential Advisor and President of FAM
In 2014, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) appointed the Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim as an advisor to the previous FAM president, his uncle, Sultan Abdullah of Pahang. Tunku Ismail assisted and worked hand in hand with FAM in improving the quality of football within the country, particularly with the national team as well as the junior teams.

As predicted, there were several concerns about the news, particularly with Tunku Ismail having lost the FAM presidency election to Tengku Abdullah earlier that year. Besides that, he had been extremely vocal with his criticisms on the nation's footballing body. However, the then Johor FA president was extremely optimistic about the new role, claiming that he will only be pushing for the betterment of football within the country.

He was elected as President of FAM for a short term from 2017 to 2018.

Crowne Plaza incident
On 24 October 2008, reports surfaced about a confrontation and a royal scuffle which allegedly occurred in a nightclub at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Kuala Lumpur between two princes. Tunku Nadzimuddin, a member of the Negeri Sembilan royal family household, filed a police report accusing of a Johor royal whom he identified the culprit to be Tunku Ismail; for initiating the confrontation and assaulting him in the face and head. A friend of Tunku Nadzimuddin, Shamshudhuha Ishak, a lawyer, filed another police report accusing of Tunku Ismail's bodyguards of assaulting him and losing two teeth in the process.

The following September, Tunku Nadzimuddin lodged a complaint against the police and the Attorney-General's chambers for not responding to the police report that he had made earlier for a RM50 million monetary settlement over the alleged episode. In a press interview, Tunku Nadzimuddin claimed that he was roughed up by Tunku Ismail and his bodyguards after the a friend of Tunku Ismail called Tunku Nadzimuddin that he had wanted to apologise over a bottle-throwing incident, while Tunku Nadzimuddin was partying. Tunku Nadzimuddin looked for Tunku Ismail with Shamshudhuha, but they were quickly assaulted by Tunku Ismail's bodyguards. Shamshudhuha was beaten unconscious, while Tunku Nadzimuddin was threatened by Tunku Ismail with a pistol pointing to his head, and led to a hotel room where they were confined. The police later arrived after Tunku Nadzimuddin called for his mother. The Johor royalty denied Tunku Nadzimuddin's claims, and stated that Tunku Ismail was barred from meeting Tunku Nadzimuddin that night for security reasons.

Assault of e-haling driver
On 29 May 2024, Malaysian police opened an investigation after a report was lodged by a disabled e-haling driver alleging that he had been assaulted by the personal security of a royal dignitary, reported by news outlets to be Tunku Ismail. On May 31, the driver, Ong Ing Keong, claimed that a representative of the Johor royal family pressured him to sign a second statement dropping the case.

Personal life
On 24 October 2014, Tunku Ismail married Che' Puan Mahkota Khaleeda at Istana Bukit Serene in a private ceremony. The solemnisation ceremony was performed by Johor mufti Dato' Mohd Tahrir Samsudin. The royal wedding reception took place at the Istana Besar on 8 November 2014.

The couple's first child is a daughter, Tunku Khalsom Aminah Sofiah, born on 25 June 2016. Their second child, a son, Tunku Iskandar Abdul Jalil Abu Bakar Ibrahim, was born 14 October 2017. A third child and second son, Tunku Abu Bakar Ibrahim, was born on 17 July 2019. A fourth child and second daughter, Tunku Zahrah Zarith Aziyah, was born on 21 April 2021.

Titles and styles
Tunku Ismail's full style and title in Malay: Duli Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Mahkota Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, D.K., S.P.M.J, S.S.I.J, S.M.J., P.I.S, Pemangku Sultan Johor

in English: His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, D.K., S.P.M.J, S.S.I.J, S.M.J., P.I.S, Regent of Johor

Honours

 * Most Esteemed Royal Family Order of Johor - ribbon bar.svg First Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I) (8 April 2009)
 * Most Esteemed Royal Family Order of Johor - ribbon bar.svg Second Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK II) (8 April 2006)
 * Order of the Crown of Johor ribbon bar.svg Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ) – Dato' (8 April 2005)
 * Order of the Crown of Johor ribbon bar.svg Companion of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SMJ) (8 April 2004)
 * MY-JOH Order of Loyalty of Sultan Ismail of Johor ribbon bar.svg Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty of Sultan Ismail of Johor (SSIJ) – Dato' (22 November 2010)
 * Order_of_Sultan_Ibrahim_of_Johor-Darjah_Sultan_Ibrahim_Johor_SMIJ_DMIJ_SIJ.svg Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor (SMIJ) – Dato' (30 March 2015)
 * Sultan Ibrahim Coronation Medal ribbon.gif First Class of the Sultan Ibrahim Coronation Medal (PIS I) (23 March 2015)
 * Pingat_Sultan_Ibrahim_2010.png First Class of the Sultan Ibrahim Medal (PSI I) (23 March 2017)