Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim (; né Tunku Ismail Idris Abdul Majid Abu Bakar Iskandar ibni Tunku Ibrahim Ismail, born 30 June 1984) is the heir apparent to the Johor throne. He is the Regent (Pemangku Sultan) and Crown Prince (Tunku Mahkota) of Johor, and the eldest son of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar and Raja Zarith Sofiah. He was proclaimed Regent of Johor on 28 January 2024, days before his father acceded as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.
Tunku Ismail trained at the Indian Military Academy and was commissioned into the Indian Army. In 2007 he led a mounted column of the 61 Cavalry regiment at India's Republic Day parade, the first foreigner to command an Indian Army unit on the occasion. He has been noted for his religious moderation. He owns the football club Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C., which in 2015 became the first Southeast Asian club to win the AFC Cup, and he was president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) from 2017 to 2018.
Tunku Ismail has been the subject of several controversies. He was accused of assault after a 2008 confrontation with members of the Negeri Sembilan royal family at a Kuala Lumpur hotel and after a 2014 incident in the players' tunnel at a Piala FA match; neither case led to charges. In 2024, a member of his security escort assaulted a deaf Grab driver in Kuala Lumpur and was fined RM1,000. He has had a long-running public dispute with Muar MP Syed Saddiq, whom he has repeatedly called a populist. In 2025, FIFA sanctioned FAM over falsified documents used to naturalise seven players whom Tunku Ismail had approved, and he rejected the ruling.
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.
Following a family tradition of getting trained in armed forces,His Majesty visits Iskandar Military Camp in Mersing, Johor, RTB News, 8 May 2008 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.Malaysian Prince to Lead Indian Army Unit in Republic Day parade, India Defence, 23 January 2007. 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.Malaysia's Pride On Show At India's Republic Day Parade, BERNAMA, 26 January 2007. His father and grandfather also had trained at IMA.Johor Ruler's Grandson Appointed Raja Muda. Bernama. 8 April 2006.
Prince of Johor Tunku Ismail was appointed Raja Muda (literally means "Younger King",Johor Ruler's Grandson Appointed Raja Muda. bernama.com. 8 April 2006. 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 Mahkota's son named Raja Muda of Johor , The star online, Star Publications, 9 April 2006. Tunku Ismail was appointed as the Tunku Mahkota of Johor on 28 January 2010.Tunku Ismail proclaimed Tunku Mahkota of Johor , Star Publications, 28 January 2010.
The Malaysian prince is the first foreigner to lead a unit of the Indian Army in the Indian Republic Day Parade.Malaysian prince at home in India, The Hindu, 27 January 2007Malaysian prince at Republic Day parade , The star online , Star Publications, 25 January 2007 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.M'sian Prince To Lead Cavalry Unit At India's Republic Day, BERNAMA, 24 January 2007. 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.
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. Bernama. (3 December 2022). . The Sun Daily.
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.Bernama. (13 December 2022). . Bernama.
Other activities
Sports 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.
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.
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.
Controversies
Crowne Plaza incident
In the early hours of 24 October 2008, a confrontation occurred between members of the Johor and Negeri Sembilan royal families at a nightclub in Kuala Lumpur. The incident began when a bottle was allegedly thrown by a member of the Johor royalty at Tunku Nadzimuddin Tunku Muzaffar, a 36-year-old prince from the Negeri Sembilan royal family, and his friends. The Johor group left shortly after, while Tunku Nadzimuddin's group continued their night out.RM50 million battle royale , Fay Angela D'cruz, 2009/09/18, New Straits Times
Around 3 AM, Tunku Nadzimuddin received a call from someone claiming to be a member of the Johor royal family. The caller said that Tunku Ismail wanted to apologize for the earlier incident and invited Tunku Nadzimuddin to the Crowne Plaza hotel in Jalan Sultan Ismail. Out of respect, Tunku Nadzimuddin agreed and went to the hotel with his friends.
Upon arrival at the hotel, Tunku Nadzimuddin and his friend, Sham Shuddhuha, a 40-year-old lawyer, were allegedly dragged into an elevator by bodyguards of the Johor royal family. The rest of their friends were stopped in the lobby. In the elevator, they encountered Tunku Ismail, who was reportedly armed with a gun. Tunku Ismail allegedly began assaulting Tunku Nadzimuddin with the gun while his bodyguards attacked Sham Shuddhuha.
The two men were then taken to Room 2523, where they were allegedly confined. Tunku Nadzimuddin suffered a fractured nose, while Sham Shuddhuha fell unconscious and lost two teeth. Taking advantage of a moment alone, Tunku Nadzimuddin sent a text message to his mother, Tunku Dara Naquiah Tuanku Jaafar, asking for help.
Tunku Dara Naquiah contacted the police and rushed to the hotel with her brother and four police officers. After initially being stopped by bodyguards, they gained access to the room and took Tunku Nadzimuddin to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment.
On 24 October 2008, Tunku Nadzimuddin filed a police report about the incident.Royal brawl: Negri prince disappointed, but A-G promises action (Update), 17 September 2009, The Star (Malaysia), Archive:https://web.archive.org/web/20180618130045/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2009/09/17/royal-brawl-negri-prince-disappointed-but-ag-promises-action-update/ The case attracted attention due to its involvement of royal family members and raised questions about legal immunity for royalty.Malaysian princes come to blows, Leslie Lopez, South-east Asia Correspondent, 31 October 2008, The Straits Times, Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20110610212845/http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=19127 The police began an investigation, eventually recording statements from 41 witnesses.
In the months following the incident, the Negeri Sembilan royal family expressed frustration with the perceived lack of progress in the investigation. By September 2009, nearly a year after the event, no charges had been filed against Tunku Ismail or his bodyguards. The Attorney-General, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, stated that the case was still under investigation and that he would make a decision soon, emphasising the need for care and caution in such sensitive matters. Up until today, there was no update to the case.
Larkin tunnel incident During the half-time interval of a second-round Piala FA match between Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and T-Team F.C. at the Tan Sri Dato' Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium in Larkin, Johor Bahru, on 1 February 2014, an altercation broke out in the players' tunnel. JDT led 2–1 at the break.
T-Team's chief operating officer, Syahrizan Mohd Zain, alleged that Tunku Ismail, then president of the Johor Football Association (PBNJ), punched their Brazilian forward Evaldo Goncalves in the face as the player headed to the dressing room, and that a security officer kicked fitness coach Stefano Impagliazzo in the groin. Evaldo was reported to have suffered a nosebleed; Impagliazzo sustained injuries to his thigh. A third player, Fábio Flor, filed a separate police report in Kuala Terengganu alleging Tunku Ismail had threatened him with the words "I will kill you, this is my country".
T-Team refused to resume play for the second half and left the stadium. Police escorted the team to the Mersing border; the players were reportedly told not to wear their jerseys during the journey. Evaldo and Fabio Flor were said to have been traumatised by the episode and wanted to return to Brazil immediately.