Abdul Halim of Kedah

Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah or in full, Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Al-Sultan Sir Almu'tasimu Billahi Muhibbudin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, GCB, KStJ, (born 28 November 1927) was the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia from 21 September 1970 to 20 September 1975 and 27th Sultan of Kedah since 15 July 1958.

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. His mother was Tunku Sofiah binti Tunku Mahmud (b. 1910), who died in an automobile accident on 28 February 1935. Tunku 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 he was appointed Raja Muda or heir apparent and succeeded as twenty-eighth Sultan of Kedah on his father's death on 15 July 1958.^[3] He was installed at the Balai Besar in Alor Star on 20 February 1959.^[4]

First Election as Deputy King

Tuanku Abdul Halim (as he became), served as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong between 21 September 1965 and 20 September 1970.

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 is 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 beginning 13 December 2006. He is the third person to have been elected twice to this office, after Tuanku Jaafar of Negeri Sembilan and Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu.

If he is in good health until December 2011, he may be the first person to be elected twice as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Family Life

Tuanku Abdul Halim married twice:

1. In 1956 to Tuanku Bahiyah, daughter of Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan by whom he has three daughters. She served as Sultanah of Kedah and Raja Permaisuri Agong. She died on 26 August 2003 at Istana Kuala Cegar in Alor Star ^[6]
2. In 1975 to Cik Haminah binti Hamidun, a commoner from Perak, who was titled Che Puan Kedah until 9 January 2004 when she was promoted to Sultanah.^[7]

He has 3 daughters. His first daughter is Tunku Soraya, who had a twin, Tunku Sarina. His last child is Tunku Intan Safinaz. He has 5 grandchildren. Three grandsons, Raja Nabil Imran, Raja Idris Shah and Raja Siffudin Muadzam and two granddaughters, Raja Sarina Bahiyah and Raja Safia Azizah.

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.^[8]

In conjunction with the Golden Jubilee, 15 July 2008 was declared as a public holiday for the whole state of Kedah.^[9] 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.

Honours

Tuanku Abdul Halim holds the rank of Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0115%2FY3031B%2F11.

Awards

His foreign honours are:

• Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum-1970
• Collar of the Star of Mahaputra-1st Class of Indonesia-1970
• Collar of the Order of Pahlavi-1971
• Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ)-1972
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB)-1972
• Collar of the Order of Rajamitrabhom of Thailand-1973
• Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III of Spain (w/Collar)-1974
• Nishan-i-Pakistan (Order of Pakistan), 1st Class-1974

Recognition

• 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 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