During Sultan Ali’s reign, the power struggle in the Perak royal court continued to drag inconclusively. He appointed Raja Abdullah ibni Almarhum Sultan Jaafar (residing at Batak Rabit) as Raja Muda, while Raja Ismail (residing at Belanja) remained as the Raja Bendahara. Once again, Raja Yusuf ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdullah Muhammad I (residing at Senggang) was passed over. The infighting between the three revolved around the claim of who was more qualified to inherit the throne.
Also, the chiefs of Perak were very much divided during this period. The chiefs of Upper Perak, around Kuala Kangsar, were at loggerheads with the Lower Perak chiefs from around Durian Sebatang (now Teluk Intan) as they were protecting their self interests.
An example of this can be seen in 1870, when Raja Muda Abdullah pawned a land in Krian as collateral to Edward Bacon, a Penang-based trader. Ngah Ibrahim was displeased by Raja Muda Abdullah’s action as land within the Kerian district belongs to Ngah Ibrahim. Moreover, no prior approval was sought fron Sultan Ali.
Sultan Ali mangkat in 26 May 1871 and was only interred on 28 June 1871 at Gedong Siam, Sayong. The posthumous title Marhum Nabi Allah was conferred subsequently to Sultan Ali.
Almarhum Sultan Ali Al-Mukammal Inayat Shah was firstly married to Raja Puteh binti Raja Kecil Sulong Idris, and they had two sons, Raja Osman (later a Raja Bendahara) and Raja Omar. Almarhum later took Tok Engku Permaisuri Zaidah as his second wife and had a daughter named Raja Zaharah.
As a result of this, Ngah Ibrahim became a strong supporter of Raja Bendahara Ismail over Raja Muda Abdullah as the contender for accession to the throne.
The delay was due to a succession dispute over the accession.
1. M.A. Fawzi Basri. Cempaka Sari: Sejarah Kesultanan Negeri Perak. Yayasan Perak; 1986.
2. Buku Chenderamata Pertabalan Sultan Idris Shah.
3. Buku Cenderamata Pertabalan Sultan Azlan Shah.
4. Arkib Negara Malaysia.
5. Portal Raja Kita Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan
6. Laman Rasmi Pejabat DYMM Sultan Perak