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Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah
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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 November 28, 1927) was the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia from September 21, 1970 to September 20, 1975 and twenty-eighth Sultan of Kedah since July 15, 1958.
Biography
Early career
Born at Istana Anak Bukit near Alor Star as Tunku Abdul Halim, he was the second, but eldest surviving son, of Tunku 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 February 28, 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 August 6, 1949 he was appointed Raja Muda or heir apparent and succeeded as twenty-eighth Sultan of Kedah on his father's death on July 15, 1958. [3] He was installed at the Balai Besar in Alor Star on February 20, 1959. [4]
First Election as Deputy King
Tuanku Abdul Halim (as he became), served as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong between September 21, 1965 and September 20, 1970.
Election as King
He was elected as fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and served his term in office from September 21, 1970 to September 20, 1975.
Events During 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 November 2, 2006, Tuanku Abdul Halim was for the second time elected Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong to serve a five-year term beginning December 13, 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.
Family Life
Tuanku Abdul Halim married twice:
- 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 August 26, 2003 (during 12:5 pm) at Istana Kuala Cegar in Alor Star [6]
- In 1975 to Cik Haminah binti Hamidun, a commoner from Perak, who was titled Che Puan Kedah until January 9, 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.
Honours
Tuanku Abdul Halim hold the rank of Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.[1]. 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
Golden Jubilee celebration
On 15 July 2008, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah has been celebrate his Golden Jubilee after successfully reigning the state of Kedah for 50 years. 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. Also in conjunction with the Golden Jubilee, 15 July 2008 was declared as a public holiday in the whole state of Kedah[8].
Trivia
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
- ^ [November 3, 2006) Bernama Online
- ^ Ibrahim Ismail (1987) Op Cit pp 214-218
- ^ Tunku Abdul Rahman (1977) Looking Back p346 Pustaka Antara, Kuala Lumpur
- ^ {August 26, 2003) Utusan Malaysia
- ^ {January 10, 2004) Bernama Online
- ^ (July 6, 2008) Bernama Online
- ^ (July 14, 2008) Bernama Online
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