Che Puan Besar Haminah
Che Puan Besar Hajah Haminah binti Haji Hamidun, formerly known as Sultanah Haminah is the former Sultanah of Kedah and the widow of Sultan Abdul Halim Mua'dzam Shah. Born as a commoner, she married Sultan Abdul Halim on 21 November 2003 after death of his first wife. She served as the 14th Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia from 2011 to 2016, during her husband's second term as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Malaysian federal head of state. After her husband's death in September 2017, his successor and her brother-in-law Sultan Sallehuddin, bestowed upon her the title Che Puan Besar of Kedah, roughly equivalent to the queen dowager.
Early life
Born on 15 July 1953 in Kampung Matang Jelutong, Bagan Serai, Perak, she is the fourth of seven siblings to Haji Hamidun bin Taib and Hajah Isma binti Mohamad. Tuanku Hajah Haminah was educated at Sekolah Kebangsaan Matang Jelutong and later Sekolah Menengah Inggeris Bagan Serai.Interests
Tuanku Hajah Haminah is known to enjoy golf, tennis, badminton, lawn bowling and music. She has participated in various golf tournaments in Kedah and initiated amateur women's golf tournaments such as the Kedah International Red Tee Invitational, as well as being invited as the royal guest for the International Lawn Bowls Mahsuri Cup in Langkawi. She also served as the first Chancellor of Management and Science University from 2004 until 2019.Orders and recognitions
She has been awarded the following honours:Honours of Kedah
- Member of the Royal Family Order of Kedah .
- Member of the Halimi Family Order of Kedah .
- Member of the Supreme Order of Sri Mahawangsa – '''Dato' Seri Utama'''
Honours of Malaysia
- * Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm
Foreign honours
- * Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown
- * Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
Places named after her
Several places have been named after her, including:- Sultanah Haminah Mosque in Pendang, Kedah
- Taman Tuanku Haminah, a residential area in Sungai Petani, Kedah
- Pusat Perdagangan Tuanku Haminah, a trade centre in Alor Setar, Kedah
- Dewan Tuanku Permaisuri Hajah Haminah, a ceremony hall at the Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah in Kuala Ketil, Kedah
- Yayasan Anak-anak Yatim Sultanah Haminah, an orphanage foundation in Kedah