Razaleigh was born in Kota Bharu to Tengku Seri Maharaja Kelantan, Tengku Muhammad Hamzah Ibni Almarhum Raja Muda Long Zainal Abidin Ibni Sultan Muhammad III, who was the Menteri Besar of Kelantan.
Razaleigh took over the family business, and then joined the United Malays National Organisation, a major Malay political party [REF].