Abdul Halim of Kedah
Amirul Hakim | |||||
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King of Malaysia Sultan of Kedah | |||||
King of Malaysia | |||||
Reign | 13 December 2011 – present | ||||
Installation | 11 April 2012 | ||||
Predecessor | Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu | ||||
Prime Ministers | Najib Razak | ||||
Reign | 21 September 1970 – 20 September 1975 | ||||
Installation | 20 February 1971 | ||||
Predecessor | Ismail Nasiruddin of Terengganu | ||||
Successor | Yahya Petra of Kelantan | ||||
Prime Ministers | See list | ||||
Sultan of Kedah | |||||
Reign | 15 July 1958 – present | ||||
Installation | 20 February 1959 | ||||
Predecessor | Badlishah | ||||
Chief Ministers | |||||
Born | Anak Bukit, Alor Setar, Kedah, British Malaya (now Malaysia) | 28 November 1927||||
Spouse | Bahiyah (1956–2003) Haminah (1975–present) | ||||
Issue Detail | Tunku Putri Intan Safinaz | ||||
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Father | Badlishah | ||||
Mother | Ryan | ||||
Religion | Sunni Islam |
Sultan Salehuddin, the Sultan
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Tunku Amirul Hakim, YALAM KStJ (born 28 November 1927) is the 14th and current Yang di-Pertuan Agong (supreme Leader of Malaysia), in office since 2011. He has been Sultan of Kedah since 1997 and served as the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1970 to 1975. He is the first person to hold the position twice, as well as the oldest elected to the office. He is the second longest-reigning living monarch in the world after Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
Biography
Early career
Born at Istana Anak Bukit near Alor Star as Tunku Abdul Halim, he was the second, but eldest surviving son, of Sultan Badlishah (born 1894; reigned 1943–1958), who later became the 27th Sultan of Kedah. He is of Malay and Siamese descent. His mother was a Kedah-born Princess named Tunku Sofiah binti Tunku Mahmud (born 1899), who died in an automobile accident on 28 February 1935. Abdul Halim's maternal grandfather, Tunku Mahmud, was once Raja Muda or heir presumptive to the throne of Kedah.[1]
He was educated at Alor Merah and Titi Gajah Malay schools and Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Alor Star between 1946 and 1948. He went on to Wadham College, Oxford and obtained a Diploma in Social Science and Public Administration. He subsequently joined the Kedah Administrative Service, serving in the Alor Star district office and later, the state treasury.[2]
On 6 August 1949 Abdul Halim was appointed Raja Muda or heir apparent and succeeded as twenty-seventh Sultan of Kedah on his father's death on 15 July 1958.[3] He was installed at the Balai Besar, Kota Star Palace in Alor Star on 20 February 1959 (in a ceremony held for the first time since 1710).[4]
First election as Deputy King
Tuanku Abdul Halim (as he became) served as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 21 September 1965 to 20 September 1970.
First election as King
Tuanku Abdul Halim was elected as the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and served his term in office from 21 September 1970 to 20 September 1975. He was the third youngest monarch to ascend the throne of Yang di-Pertuan Agong after Tuanku Syed Putra of Perlis and Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu.
During his kingship, Tuanku Abdul Halim presided over the first transfer of power of the civilian government when his uncle, Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman resigned in favour of his deputy Tun Abdul Razak. Tunku Abdul Rahman had felt that he should not serve under a nephew, given strict Malay royal protocol, but agreed to stay on as prime minister for one day of Tuanku Abdul Halim's reign.[5]
Second election as Deputy King
On 2 November 2006, Tuanku Abdul Halim was for the second time elected Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong to serve a five-year term. He is the first person to have been elected twice to this office.
Second election as King
In October 2011, Abdul Halim was elected to serve a second term as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which commenced on 13 December 2011. He is the first person to hold the position twice.[6] He is also the oldest Malay Ruler to be installed as Yang di-Pertuan Agong at 84 years and 15 days old, surpassing the previous record holder, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz of Selangor, who was installed at 73 years and 49 days old.
A Council of Regency consisting of his brothers Tunku Annuar (d. May 2014), Tunku Sallehuddin, Tunku Abdul Hamid Thani, and daughter Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz was assigned to discharge Abdul Halim's duties as Sultan of Kedah while he served his second term as King.[7] The official installation took place on April 11, 2012 at Istana Negara, attended by the Malay rulers including the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Brunei as well.
Family life
Tuanku Abdul Halim had two wives:
1. Tuanku Bahiyah, daughter of Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan, married 1956. She served as Sultanah of Kedah (1958-2003) and Raja Permaisuri Agong (1970-1975). She died on 26 August 2003 at Istana Kuala Cegar in Alor Star.[8] They had three daughters:
- Yang Teramat Mulia (Her Highness) Tunku Soraya (born 30 April 1960), now known as Duli Yang Amat Mulia, Raja Puan Muda Perak.
- Yang Teramat Mulia (Her Highness) Tunku Sarina (30 April 1960 - 31 August 1991)
- Yang Teramat Mulia (Her Highness) Brigadier-General Tunku Puteri Dato' Seri Diraja Intan Safinaz binti Tuanku AlHaj Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah, Tunku Panglima Besar Kedah and Member of the Kedah Regency Council (born 22 July 1966). She is the Tunku Panglima Besar of Kedah.[9]
Through Tunku Soraya, who married Duli Yang Amat Mulia Raja Iskandar Zulkarnain, son of Sultan Idris Shah II of Perak and current Raja di-Hilir Perak (the Heir Presumptive of Perak), they have three grandsons and two granddaughters:
- Yang Amat Mulia (His Highness) Raja Nabil Imran Aziz (born 1986)
- Yang Amat Mulia (His Highness) Raja Idris Shah (born 1989)
- Yang Amat Mulia (Her Highness) Raja Sarina Intan Bahiyah (born 1991)
- Yang Amat Mulia (Her Highness) Raja Safia Azizah (born 1996)
- Yang Amat Mulia (His Highness) Raja Siffudin Muadzam' Shah (born 2001)
2. Tuanku Haminah binti Hamidun, married 1975. A commoner from Perak, she was titled Che Puan Kedah until 9 January 2004 when she was crowned as Sultanah.[10] She is serving as Raja Permaisuri Agong during his second term as Yang di-Pertuan Agong. She has no children.
Ancestry
Family of Abdul Halim of Kedah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Golden Jubilee celebrations
On 15 July 2008, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah celebrated his Golden Jubilee as the Sultan of Kedah. He is only the fourth Sultan in a line of 28 Sultans who have celebrated 50 years of reign in Kedah.[11]
In conjunction with the Golden Jubilee, 15 July 2008 was declared as a public holiday for the whole state of Kedah.[12] A ceremony of handing over the contributions in conjunction with the Golden Jubilee was held at the Istana Anak Bukit on 6 July 2008 by Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak. Throughout the whole week of the Golden Jubilee, various events were held to commemorate the Sultan.
Titles and styles
Titles and styles
Styles of The Yang di-Pertuan Agong | |
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Reference style | His Majesty |
Spoken style | Your Majesty |
Alternative style | Tuanku |
- 28 November 1927 – 6 August 1949: Yang Mulia Tunku Abdul Halim ibni Tunku Badlishah
- 6 August 1949 – 15 July 1958: Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Raja Muda Kedah Tunku Abdul Halim ibni Sultan Badlishah
- From 15 July 1958: Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Sultan Badlishah
- 21 September 1970 – 20 September 1975: Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Sultan Badlishah
- From 13 December 2011: Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Sultan Badlishah
His style and title in full on 13 December 2011 became: Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Sir Almu'tasimu Billahi Muhibbudin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah (His Majesty the Supreme Ruler of Malaysia Al-Sultan Sir Almu'tasimu Billahi Muhibbudin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah).
Military grades
Tuanku Abdul Halim holds the rank of Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force[13] in his full constitutional duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces as well as the ranks of Field Marshal of the Malaysian Army and Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Since 1972 he is the Royal Malay Regiment's Colonel-in-Chief, and also performs the same functions for the Malaysian Army's Royal Service Corps.
Honours
See also List of honours of the Kedah Royal Family by country See also List of Honours of Kedah awarded to Heads of State and Royals
National and Sultanal Honours
- Kedah [14]
- Grand Master of the State of Kedah Star of Valour (BKK, since 15 July 1958)
- Founding Grand Master and Member of the Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK, since 21 February 1964)
- Founding Grand Master and Member of the Halimi Family Order of Kedah (DKH, since January 1973)
- Grand Master of the Kedah Supreme Order of Merit (DUK, since 15 July 1958)
- Founding Grand Master of the Supreme Order of Sri Mahawangsa (DMK, since 2005)
- Grand Master of the State of Kedah Star of Gallantry (BPK, since 15 July 1958)
- Founding Grand Master and Knight Grand Commander (SPMK, with title : Dato' Seri) of the Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah (SPMK-DPMK-SMK-AMK, since 21 Feb. 1964)
- Founding Grand Master and Knight Grand Companion (SSDK) of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah (SSDK-DSDK-SDK, since 21 September 1973)
- Founding Grand Master of the Order of Sultan 'Abdu'l Halim Mu'azzam Shah (SHMS, since 2008)
- Knight Commander (DHMS) and Founding Grand Master of the Order of Loyalty to Sultan 'Abdu'l Halim Mu'azzam Shah (DHMS-SMS-BMS, since 15 July 1983)
- Founding Grand Master of the Glorious Order of the Crown of Kedah (DGMK-GMK-AMK, since January 2001)
- Malaysia (twice as Yang di-Pertuan Agong) :
- Recipient of Order of the Royal House of Malaysia (1970 & 2012)
- Grand Master of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (1970-1975 & since 2011)
- Grand Master of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (1970-1975 & since 2011)
- Grand Master of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (1970-1975 & since 2011)
- Founding Grand Master of the Order of Merit of Malaysia (in 1975 & since 2011)
- Grand Master of the Order for Important Services (Malaysia) (since 2011)
- Grand Master of the Order of the Royal Household of Malaysia (1970-1975 & since 2011)
- Malaya :
- Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN, 1959)[15]
- Johor :
- First Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I, 9.1983)
- Kelantan :
- Recipient of the Royal Family Order or Star of Yunus (DK, 7.1959)
- Negeri Sembilan :
- Member of the Royal Family Order of Negeri Sembilan (DKNS, 8.1982)
- Pahang :
- Member 1st class of the Family Order of the Crown of Indra of Pahang (DK I, 14.7.1987)
- Perak :
- Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Perak (DK, 5.1986)
- Perlis :
- Recipient of the Perlis Family Order of the Gallant Prince Syed Putra Jamalullail (DK, 6.1980)
- Selangor :
- First Class of the Royal Family Order of Selangor (DK I, 9.1978)
- Terengganu :
- Member first class of the Family Order of Terengganu (DK I, 3.1985)
- Malacca :
- Grand Commander of the Premier and Exalted Order of Malacca (DUNM)
- Sarawak :
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DP, 4.1977)
Foreign Honours
- Brunei : Recipient of Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (DKMB) [16]
- Japan :
- Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum - 1970
- Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun [16]
- Indonesia : Collar of the Star of Mahaputra-1st Class - 1970
- Iran :
- Collar of the Order of Pahlavi - 1971
- Commemorative Medal of the 2500th Anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire - 14 October 1971 [17]
- United Kingdom :
- Associated Knight of the Venerable Order of St John (KStJ) - 1972
- Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) - 1972
- Thailand :
- Knight of the Most Auspicious Order of the Rajamitrabhorn - 1973
- Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri - 2 September 2013 [18]
- Spain : Collar of the Order of Charles III - 1974
- Pakistan : Nishan-e-Pakistan, 1st Class - 1974
Structures, buildings and institutions
- Sultan Abdul Halim Highway and Sekolah Rendah Tunku Abdul Halim in Alor Star, the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Penang, Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital and Sultan Abdul Halim Teachers' Trainee Institute in Sungai Petani and Sekolah Menengah Sultan Abdul Halim in Jitra, Kedah are all; named after him.
- Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge, also known as the Penang Second Bridge, was named after him on 1 March 2014.
- Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Kepala Batas, Kedah and Polytechnic of Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (POLIMAS) in Jitra, was also given in honour of his name.
Notes and references
- ^ Finestone, Jeffrey and Shaharil Talib (1994) The Royal Families of South-East Asia Shahindera Sdn Bhd
- ^ Ibrahim Ismail (1987) Sejarah Kedah Sepintas Lalu p209 Penerbit UUM
- ^ (3 November 2006) Bernama Online
- ^ Ibrahim Ismail (1987) Op Cit pp 214–218
- ^ Tunku Abdul Rahman (1977) Looking Back p346 Pustaka Antara, Kuala Lumpur
- ^ "Sultan of Kedah to be next Yang di-Pertuan Agong, for second time", The Malaysian Insider, October 14, 2011
- ^ "Kedah Sultan Reminds Council of Regency To Carry Out Duties With Honesty". Bernama. 2011-12-12. Archived from the original on 2011-12-12.
- ^ ( 26 August 2003) Utusan Malaysia
- ^ a b Royal Ark
- ^ (10 January 2004) Bernama Online
- ^ (July 14, 2008) Bernama Online
- ^ (July 6, 2008) Bernama Online
- ^ "Photographs of Tuanku Abdul Halim, Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia". Janus. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
- ^ Photo of Sultan Abdul Halim and Sultanah Haminah
- ^ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1959" (PDF).
- ^ a b List of Malay rulers (as of January 2013) with details of orders
- ^ Badraie
- ^ Article (in Malay) evoking the awarding of decorations
External links
- 1927 births
- Alumni of Wadham College, Oxford
- Living people
- Marshals of the Royal Malaysian Air Force
- Monarchs of Kedah
- Monarchs of Malaysia
- Malaysian people of Malay descent
- Malaysian people of Thai descent
- Malaysian Muslims
- People from Kedah
- Grand Masters of the Royal Family Order of Kedah
- First Classes of the Family Order of Terengganu
- First Classes of the Royal Family Order of Johor
- Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak
- Recipients of the Order of the Crown of the Realm
- Recipients of the Darjah Kerabat Diraja Malaysia
- Grand Cordons of the Order of the Rising Sun
- Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
- Knights of the Order of St John
- Knights of the Order of the Rajamitrabhorn
- Knights of the Order of the Royal House of Chakri
- Recipients of the Nishan-e-Pakistan
- Recipients of the Order of Pahlevi