Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakil was the frontrunner to be elected Malaysia's eighth Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
However on 31 January 1984, a week before being elected, he died after suffering a heart attack at the Angkatan Tentera Hospital, Lumut at 11:15 pm.
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.
The state mosque of Perak in Ipoh and Sultan Idris Shah II Bridge in Bota are named after him.