He was born on 17 August 1924 at Istana Negara, Kuala Kangsar, Perak as the second son of Sultan Iskandar and Raja Puteh Umi Kalsom. His father was a son of Sultan Iskandar Shah and a brother of Sultan Abdul Jalil. His oldest brother died when he was only 40 days old. He was named Raja Idris Shah at birth. He was educated at Clifford School, Kuala Kangsar and furthered his studies at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar. He was made Raja Di Hilir in 1933, succeeding Raja Chulan, who died that year. He was appointed Raja Bendahara in October 1938 upon the demise of his father. Ten years later, on 29 March 1948, the then sultan, Sultan Abdul Aziz, died and Raja Idris was made Raja Muda by his cousin, the new sultan, Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah.
Sultan of Perak
Upon the death of his cousin Sultan Yussuff Izzuddin Shah on 5 January 1963, he was appointed as the 33rd Sultan of Perak assuming title – Sultan Idris Iskandar Al-Mutawakkil Alallahi Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Shah Kaddasullah.
Marriages and children
Sultan Idris married firstly, Raja Noor Izah binti Raja Ali. She was styled Raja Puan Besar until their divorce 14 years later. He then married his cousin Raja Muzwin, the daughter of Raja Arif Shah Raja Harun, on 12 August 1943. Idris and Raja Muzwin are first cousins once removed. Idris's grandfather, Sultan Idris Shah I, is Raja Muzwin's great-grandfather. She became to be known as Raja Perempuan upon Sultan Idris ascending the Perak throne. Among his children were:
Raja Nazhatul Shima, who is Raja Puan Besar of Perak married to His Highness Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Jaafar ibni Almarhum Raja Muda Musa on 12 January 2019 after her first husband, Syed Omar Alsagoff passed away in 2017.
Raja Dato' Seri Yussuff Izzuddin Iskandar Shah, married Tengku Datin Seri Noor Hazah.
The Sultan was also claimed to have a son with an Elizabeth Rosa, who was given up for adoption. Keith Williams was raised in Wales, and in 2015 traced his birth parents for a documentary for S4C. His grandchildren:
By Raja Nazhatul Shima and Syed Omar Alsagoff:
*Syed Saif Alsagoff
*Syed Ibrahim Alsagoff
*Syed Redzuan Alsagoff
*Syed Shareef Alsagoff
*Syed Idris Alsagoff
*Syed Iskandar Alsagoff
By Yang Teramat Mulia Raja Dato' Seri Izzuddin Iskandar and Tengku Datin Seri Noor Hazah daughter of :
*Raja Teh Umi Kalsom
*Raja Muzaffar Idris Shah
*Raja Putra Muhamad Riza
By Duli Yang Amat Mulia Raja Iskandar Zulkarnain and Tunku Soraya :
Sultan Idris Shah II was the frontrunner to be elected Malaysia's eighth Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. However it was fated that on 31 January 1984, a week before being elected by his all Malay rulers, he suddenly died after suffering a heart attack at the Angkatan Tentera Hospital, Lumut at 11:15 pm. He was 59 and was the Sultan of Perak for 21 years. He was interred at the Al-Ghufran Royal Mausoleum at Bukit Chandan and the posthumous title of Marhum Afifullah was conferred. He funeral took place on 3 February 1984 and he was buried at the Al-Ghufran Royal Mausoleum near Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar. He was succeeded by his first nephew once removed, Raja Azlan Shah.
