PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah has passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86.

His passing was announced by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

Zambry said the Sultan would be laid to rest at the royal mausoleum in Kuala Kangsar after Asar prayers on Thursday.

Born on April 19, 1928, in Batu Gajah, Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusuff Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-lah ascended to the throne on Dec 9, 1985.

A Sultan for nearly three decades, he is survived by his wife Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Bainun, as well as a son and three daughters.

The Sultan became the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong from April 26, 1989 until April 25, 1994.

Sultan Azlan Shah received his early education at the Government English School in Batu Gajah before continuing his studies at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar.

He went on to read law at Nottingham University and was later conferred the Bachelor of Law in 1953, and admitted to the English Bar by the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn on Nov 23, 1954.

Upon completing his education, Sultan Azlan Shah returned to Malaysia where he first served as the Assistant State Secretary of Perak.

His career in the legal service thereafter was a long and illustrious one, and in 1965, the then 37-year-old was elevated to the Bench of the High Court of Malaya as the youngest judge in the Commonwealth.

In 1973, he was appointed as a Federal Court Judge and six years later, in 1979, he became Chief Justice of the High Court, an office which he held until his appointment as the Lord President of the Federal Court of Malaysia on Nov 12, 1982.

On July 1, 1983, he was made Raja Muda of Perak (Crown Prince).

Among his hobbies were hockey and golfing.

The Sultan was known for his contributions to Malaysia's institutes of higher learning, and was also the Royal Patron of many student, graduate, professional and charitable clubs and associations.

As a token of appreciation, the orchid Doritinosis Sultan Azlan Shah was named after the ruler. The orchid won the "Best Plant" award in its category during the Domestic Tourism Expo of Perak in 1992.