Sultan Abdul Jalil (29th Sultan of Perak) Passed Away Due to Spanish Flu
The 1918 flu pandemic, commonly known as the Spanish Flu, was a category 5 influenza pandemic that began in the United States, West Africa, and France, eventually spreading across almost the entire world. This pandemic is understood to be the first caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus subtype, and most of those who perished from this flu were young people. The Spanish Flu swept across the globe from March 1918 to June 1920. Approximately 50 million to 100 million people worldwide lost their lives, indirectly making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. Our country was not spared from this epidemic. One of the victims believed to have been infected with the Spanish Flu was Sultan Abdul Jalil (the 29th Sultan of Perak). On October 26, 1918, at approximately 3:15 AM, Sultan Abdul Jalil (the 29th Sultan of Perak) passed away at Istana Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar.
Less than a week before his passing on October 22, 1918, Sultan Abdul Jalil was reported to have developed a fever, cough, and symptoms of the Spanish Flu. He then fell ill and passed away on October 26, 1918. The passing of Sultan Abdul Jalil (the 29th Sultan of Perak) came as a great shock to the people of Perak, who were also suffering from the strange disease sweeping through the country at the time. Not many were aware of the disease that was plaguing the nation then. All that was known was that many people in Penang had died from the flu, shortness of breath, and high fever. The disease then began to spread to the state of Perak and throughout the Malay Peninsula.
A month after the passing of Sultan Abdul Jalil, on November 25, 1918, at approximately 2:15 AM, Sultan Zainal Abidin III (the 12th Sultan of Terengganu) also passed away at Istana Kecil, Dalam Kota Istana Maziah, Kuala Terengganu. Within a period of about a month, two Malay Rulers passed away, believed to have been infected with the Spanish Flu. This is based on reports of their passing and the early signs that indicated symptoms of the epidemic. The remains of the late Sultan Abdul Jalil were laid to rest at the Bukit Chandan Royal Mausoleum, Kuala Kangsar, and subsequently, Sultan Iskandar Shah was installed as the 30th Sultan of Perak. Source adapted from:
