Musa Ghiatuddin Riayat Shah of Selangor

Who was Musa Ghiatuddin Riayat Shah of Selangor?

Almarhum Sultan Musa Ghiatuddin Riayat Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah was Sultan of Selangor in Malaysia during the Japanese occupation of that state. He received the Order of the Rising Sun from the Emperor of Japan.

The eldest son of Sultan Alaeddin by his royal consort Tengku Ampuan Maharum binti Raja Muda Tunku Dziauddin of Kedah, he was born in Jugra, Selangor. His name at birth was Tengku Musa Eddin.

Educated privately, he was made Tengku Mahkota in 1903. He succeeded his father's great-uncle Raja Laut bin Sultan Muhammad as Raja Muda or Crown Prince of Selangor in 1920. An intelligent young man, he represented his father on the State Council established by the British colonial authority.

However, at the instigation of the British Resident, Theodore Samuel Adams, Tengku Musa Eddin was dismissed as Raja Muda in 1934 for alleged "misbehaviour". Adams had accused Tengku Musa Eddin as a spendthrift and wastrel with a penchant for gambling. However, many Malays in Selangor believed the real reason for Tengku Musa Eddin's dismissal was his refusal to follow Adam's orders.

Although Sultan Sulaiman pleaded for the case of Tengku Musa Eddin, Tengku Alam Shah was instead proclaimed Raja Muda or heir to the throne over the head of his other half-brother Tengku Badar. The appointment occurred on 20 July 1936.