Ismail Yahaya
Omar Abdullah Shahabuddin
Ahmad Mahmud Shahabuddin
Nahar Sheh Shahabuddin
Osman Aroff
Sanusi Junid
Syed Razak Syed Zain Barakbah
Mahdzir Khalid
Azizan Abdul Razak
Mukhriz Mahathir
Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah

Born

28 November 1927
Istana Anak Bukit, Alor Setar, Kedah, Unfederated Malay States, British Malaya (now Malaysia)

Died

11 September 2017 (aged 89)
Istana Anak Bukit, Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia

Burial

12 September 2017
Langgar Royal Mausoleum, Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia

Spouse

Sultanah Bahiyah

(m. 1956; died 2003)

Sultanah Haminah

(m. 1975⁠–⁠2017)

Issue
Detail

Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz
Tunku Soraya (adopted)
Tunku Sarina (adopted)

Full name
Tunku Abdul Halim ibni Tunku Badlishah
Regnal name
Al-Sultan Al-Mu’tassimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku Al-Haj Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah

House

Mahawangsa

Father

Sultan Badlishah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah

Mother

Tunku Sofiah binti Tunku Mahmud

Religion

Sunni Islam

Al-Sultan Al-Mu’tassimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku Al-Haj Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah (Jawi: المرحوم السلطان المعتصم بالله محب الدين توانکو الحاج عبدالحليم معظم شاه ابن المرحوم سلطان بدلي شاه) was a very important ruler in Malaysia. He was born on 28 November 1927 and passed away on 11 September 2017. He served as the 28th Sultan of Kedah for a long time, from 1958 to 2017.

What makes him special is that he was the only person to be the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia (which is like the King of Malaysia) twice! He was the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1970 to 1975, and then again the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 2011 to 2016. He was also the oldest person to become Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Before he passed away, he was the second longest-reigning living monarch in the world, after Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Biography
- Where did he grow up?
- What was his education like?
His Time as Sultan of Kedah
- Becoming Sultan
- Celebrating his reign
His Time as Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia
Family Life
Death
Military Ranks
Awards and Recognitions
Places Named After Him
See also

Biography

Where did he grow up?

Tunku Abdul Halim ibni Tunku Badlishah was born at Istana Anak Bukit, a palace near Alor Setar. He was the second son of Sultan Badlishah, who later became the 28th Sultan of Kedah. His mother, Tunku Sofiah binti Tunku Mahmud, sadly passed away in a car accident when he was young.

What was his education like?

He went to Malay schools in Alor Merah and Titi Gajah. Then, he studied at Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Alor Star from 1946 to 1948. After that, he traveled to England to study at Wadham College, Oxford. There, he earned a diploma in Social Science and Public Administration. When he returned, he joined the Kedah Administrative Service, working in the Alor Star district office and the state treasury.

His Time as Sultan of Kedah

Becoming Sultan

On 6 August 1949, Tunku Abdul Halim was named Raja Muda, which means he was the next in line to become Sultan. He became the 28th Sultan of Kedah on 14 July 1958, after his father passed away. His official installation ceremony took place on 20 February 1959, at the Balai Besar in Alor Star. This was a very special event, as such a ceremony hadn't been held since 1710!

Celebrating his reign

Sultan Abdul Halim celebrated his Silver Jubilee (25 years as Sultan) on 15 August 1983. To mark this special day, the Kedah government opened Jubli Perak Park in Sungai Petani.

On 15 July 2008, he celebrated his Golden Jubilee (50 years as Sultan). He was only the fourth Sultan in Kedah's history to reign for at least 50 years. This day was made a public holiday in Kedah, and many events were held to celebrate his long and important rule.

His Time as Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia

First time as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Before becoming the King, Tuanku Abdul Halim served as the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong. This was from 21 September 1965 to 20 September 1970.

First time as Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Abdul Halim in a carriage with Elizabeth II on a state visit to London, 1974.

In July 1970, Tuanku Abdul Halim was chosen to be the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. He held this important role from 21 September 1970 to 20 September 1975. He was one of the youngest rulers to become Yang di-Pertuan Agong at that time.

During his first time as King, he oversaw a big change in the government. The Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, who was his uncle, stepped down. His deputy, Tun Abdul Razak, took over.

Second time as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong

On 2 November 2006, Tuanku Abdul Halim was chosen again to be the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong for another five years. He was the first person ever to be chosen for this role twice!

Second time as Yang di-Pertuan Agong

In October 2011, Abdul Halim was elected for a second term as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. His second term started on 13 December 2011. This made him the first and only Sultan to hold the position of King twice. He was also the oldest Malay Ruler to be installed as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, at 84 years old. His installation ceremony was on 11 April 2012.

While he was the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, a special group called the Council of Regency helped manage his duties as Sultan of Kedah. His second term as King ended on 12 December 2016.

Family Life

Tuanku Abdul Halim had two wives during his life:

Sultanah Bahiyah: She was the daughter of Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan. They married in 1956. She was the Sultanah of Kedah from 1958 to 2003 and the Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) during his first term as King. She passed away in 2003. They had one daughter:

* Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz (born 1966). They also adopted twin daughters of his eldest sister: * Tunku Soraya (born 1960). * Tunku Sarina (born 1960, passed away in 1991).

Sultanah Haminah: She married him in 1975. She became Sultanah in 2004 and served as Raja Permaisuri Agong during his second term as King.

Death

Sultan Abdul Halim passed away on 11 September 2017, at the age of 89, at Istana Anak Bukit in Alor Setar. He was laid to rest the next day beside his first wife, Sultanah Bahiyah, at the Langgar Royal Mausoleum in Alor Setar, Kedah.

Military Ranks

As part of his duties as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim held the highest ranks in the Malaysian Armed Forces. He was a Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, a Field Marshal of the Malaysian Army, and an Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal Malaysian Navy. He was also the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Malay Regiment and the Malaysian Army's Royal Service Corps.

Awards and Recognitions

Tuanku Abdul Halim received many important awards and honors from both Malaysia and other countries throughout his life, showing his dedication and service.

Places Named After Him

Many places in Malaysia are named after Sultan Abdul Halim to honor his contributions. These include:

Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Gallery

Sultan Abdul Halim Highway in Alor Setar, Kedah
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Gallery, a museum in Alor Setar, Kedah
Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium in Alor Setar, Kedah
SK Tunku Abdul Halim, a primary school in Alor Setar, Kedah
Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Penang
Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sungai Petani, Kedah
Sultan Abdul Halim Mosque in Sungai Petani, Kedah
Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Sultan Abdul Halim in Sungai Petani, Kedah
Sekolah Menengah Sultan Abdul Halim, a secondary school in Jitra, Kedah
Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge, also known as the Penang Second Bridge
Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Kepala Batas, Kedah
Politeknik Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (POLIMAS) in Jitra
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim in Kuala Lumpur
Kompleks Penerangan & Penyiaran Sultan Abdul Halim in Alor Setar, Kedah
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah International Islamic University in Kuala Ketil, Kedah
Kem Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah, a military camp in Jitra, Kedah
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Football Cup

Abdul Halim of Kedah facts for kids

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