| Abdul Halim | |
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| Reign | 13 December 2011 – present |
| Predecessor | Mizan Zainal Abidin |
| Prime Ministers |
See list
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| Reign | 21 September 1970 – 20 September 1975 |
| Predecessor | Ismail Nasiruddin |
| Successor | Yahya Petra |
| Prime Ministers |
See list
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| Reign | 15 July 1958 – present |
| Predecessor | Badlishah |
| Heir presumptive | Abdul Malik |
| Chief Ministers |
See list
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| Spouse | Bahiyah (1956–2003) Haminah (1975–present) |
| Full name | |
| Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah | |
| Father | Badlishah |
| Mother | Sofia binti Mahmud |
| Born | 28 November 1927 Alor Setar, Kedah (now Malaysia) |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Sultan Badlishah, GCB KStJ (born 28 November 1927) is the 14th and current Yang di-Pertuan Agong (head of state) of Malaysia, as well as the 27th and current Sultan of Kedah. He previously served as the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1970 to 1975. He is the first person to hold the position twice, as well as the oldest elected to the office.
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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 (born 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]
Tuanku Abdul Halim (as he became), served as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong between 21 September 1965 and 20 September 1970.
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]
On 2 November 2006, Tuanku Abdul Halim was for the second time elected Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong to serve a five-year term. 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.
In October 2011, Abdul Halim was elected to serve a second term as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong which commenced on 13 December 2011. He is the first person to hold the position twice.[6] He is also the oldest Malay Ruler to be crowned Yang di-Pertuan Agong at 84 years 15 days, beating the previous record holder, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz of Selangor, who was crowned at 73 years 49 days.
A Council of Regency consisting of his brothers Tunku Annuar, Tunku Sallehuddin, Tunku Abdul Hamid Thani, and daughter Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz will discharge his duties as Sultan of Kedah while he serves his term as King.[7]
Tuanku Abdul Halim has two wives:
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.[10]
In conjunction with the Golden Jubilee, 15 July 2008 was declared as a public holiday for the whole state of Kedah.[11] 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.
| Monarchical styles of The Yang di-Pertuan Agong |
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|---|---|
| Reference style | His Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Majesty |
| Alternative style | Tuanku |
His style and title in full from 13 December 2011 is: Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Sir Almu'tasimu Billahi Muhibbudin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah or translated into English as His Majesty the Supreme Ruler of Malaysia Al-Sultan Sir Almu'tasimu Billahi Muhibbudin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah.
Tuanku Abdul Halim holds the rank of Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force[12] in his full 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 is the Royal Malay Regiment's Colonel-in-Chief.
His foreign honours are:
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Badlishah |
Sultan of Kedah 1958–present |
Incumbent Heir presumptive: Abdul Malik |
| Preceded by Ismail Nasiruddin |
Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia 1970–1975 |
Succeeded by Yahya Petra |
| Preceded by Mizan Zainal Abidin |
Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia 2011–present |
Incumbent |