Tuanku Abdul Halim
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In full, Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Al-Sultan Almu'tasimu Billahi Muhibbudin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah (November 28, 1927- ) was the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (roughly equivalent to King) of Malaysia from September 21, 1970 to September 20, 1975 and twenty-eighth Sultan of Kedah since July 13, 1958.
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[edit] Early Career
Born at Istana Anak Bukit, 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 13, 1958. [3] He was installed at the Balai Besar in Alor Star on February 20, 1959. [4]
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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]
[edit] 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.
[edit] Family Life
Tuanku Abdul Halim married twice:
- in 1956 to Tuanku Hajjah Bahiyah, daughter of Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan by whom he had three daughters. She served as Sultanah of Kedah and Raja Permaisuri Agong. She died on August 25, 2003 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]
[edit] Trivia
- Sultan Abdul Halim Highway in Alor Star, the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Penang, Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim in Sungai Petani and Sekolah Menengah Sultan Abdul Halim in Jitra, Kedah are all; named after him
- He was the second youngest Yang di-Petrtuan Agong after Tuanku Syed Putra, beginning his reign at the age of 42 years 9 months 25 days.
[edit] Notes
- ^ 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
| Preceded by Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah (Sultan of Terengganu) |
Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) 1970-1975 |
Succeeded by Sultan Yahya Petra (Sultan of Kelantan) |
| Preceded by Sultan Badlishah |
Sultan of Kedah 1958-current |
Succeeded by incumbent |
