Abdul Halim of Kedah


Al-Mu’tassimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah was Sultan of Kedah from 1958 until his death in 2017, and served twice as the King of Malaysia from 1970 to 1975 and from 2011 to 2016. He was the first and only ruler to reign as king twice, as well as the oldest elected to the office. Prior to his death, he was the second longest-reigning living monarch in the world after Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Early life, education and early career

Abdul Halim was born at Istana Anak Bukit near Alor Setar as Tunku Abdul Halim ibni Tunku Badlishah, he was the second, but eldest surviving son, of Sultan Badlishah, who later became the 28th Sultan of Kedah. Of Malay and Thai descent, his mother Tunku Sofiah binti Tunku Mahmud, was a Kedah-born princess who died in an automobile accident on 28 February 1934. Abdul Halim's maternal grandfather, Tunku Mahmud, was once Raja Muda to the throne of Kedah.
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.

Sultan of Kedah (1958–2017)

On 6 August 1949, Abdul Halim was appointed Raja Muda or heir apparent, and acceded as the 28th Sultan of Kedah upon his father's death on 14 July 1958. He was installed at the Balai Besar, Kota Star Palace in Alor Star on 20 February 1959, in a ceremony not held since 1710.

Silver jubilee celebrations

Abdul Halim celebrated his silver jubilee on 15 July 1983 with his royal consort, Sultanah Bahiyah. To commemorate the occasion the Kedah government opened Jubli Perak Park at Sungai Petani, Kedah's second largest town.

Golden jubilee celebrations

On 15 July 2008, Abdul Halim celebrated his golden jubilee as the Sultan of Kedah. He was the 4th Sultan of Kedah in a line of 28 to reign for at least 50 years.
In conjunction with the golden jubilee, 15 July 2008 was declared a public holiday for the state of Kedah. 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 Chief Minister Azizan Abdul Razak. Throughout the week of the golden jubilee, various events were held to commemorate the Sultan.

Yang-di Pertuan Agong (1970–1975, 2011–2016)

First election as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Abdul Halim served as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 21 September 1965 to 20 September 1970.

First election as Yang di-Pertuan Agong

In July 1970, Abdul Halim was elected as the 5th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and served from 21 September 1970 until 20 September 1975. He was the third youngest monarch to ascend the throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after Putra of Perlis and Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu.
During his kingship, 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 his nephew, given strict Malay royal protocol, but agreed to stay on as prime minister for one day of Abdul Halim's reign.

Second election as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong

On 2 November 2006, Abdul Halim was elected for the second time to serve a five-year term as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He was the first person to have been elected to this office twice.

Second election as Yang di-Pertuan Agong

In October 2011, Abdul Halim was elected to a second term as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which commenced on 13 December 2011. He was the first and only person to hold the position twice. He was 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, Salahuddin of Selangor, who was installed at 73 years and 49 days old. He was installed on 11 April 2012 at the Istana Negara.
During his tenure as Yang Di Pertuan Agong, a Council of Regency consisting of his brothers Tunku Annuar, Tunku Sallehuddin, Tunku Abdul Hamid Thani, and daughter Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz was assigned to discharge Abdul Halim's duties as Sultan of Kedah. His tenure as Yang Di Pertuan Agong ended on 12 December 2016.

Personal life

Abdul Halim had two wives:
1. Sultanah Bahiyah, the daughter of Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan, married in 1956. She served as Sultanah of Kedah and Raja Permaisuri Agong. She died on 26 August 2003 at the Istana Kuala Cegar in Alor Star. They had one daughter:
On 3 May 1960, they also adopted the twin daughters of his eldest sister, Tunku Hamidah, before the birth of their only child:
  • Her Highness Tunku Soraya, the Raja Puan Muda of Perak.
  • Her Highness Tunku Sarina.
Through Tunku Soraya, who married Raja Iskandar Dzurkarnain, the son of Idris Al-Mutawakil Alallahi Shah of Perak and the Raja Di-Hilir of Perak, they gave him three grandsons and two granddaughters:
  • His Highness Raja Nabil Imran Aziz
  • His Highness Raja Idris Shah
  • Her Highness Raja Sarina Intan Bahiyah
  • Her Highness Raja Safia Azizah
  • His Highness Raja Siffudin Muadzam Shah
2. Sultanah Haminah, married in 1975. A commoner from Perak, she was titled Che Puan Kedah until 9 January 2004 when she was installed as Sultanah. She served as Raja Permaisuri Agong during his second term as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Issue

NameBirth DateBirth PlaceDeath DateDeath PlaceMarriage DateSpouseTheir childrenTheir grandchildren
HRH Tunku Soraya30 April 196024 August 1986DYAM Raja Iskandar Zulkarnain ibni Almarhum Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakkil Alallahi Shah IIHH Raja Nabil Imran
HH Raja Idris Shah
HH Raja Sarina Intan Bahiyah
HH Raja Safia Azizah
HH Raja Sifuddin Muadzam Shah		Raja Sarah Bahiyah
Raja Intan Soraya
HH Tunku Sarina30 April 196031 August 1991Kedah Royal Mausoleum1984HH Tunku Abdul Karim bin Tunku Ziauddin al-Haj
HH Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz binti Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim22 July 1966

Death

Sultan Abdul Halim died aged 89 at 2:30 pm on 11 September 2017 at the Istana Anak Bukit in Alor Setar, two months before his 90th birthday. He was laid to rest next to the grave of his late wife, Sultanah Bahiyah, at the Langgar Royal Mausoleum in Alor Setar, Kedah, on the day after his death.

Military grades

Abdul Halim held the rank of Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force in his previous 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 was the Royal Malay Regiment's Colonel-in-Chief, and also performed the same functions for the Malaysian Army's Royal Service Corps.

Awards and recognitions

National and State honours

Foreign honours

Places named after him

Several places were named after him, including: