Ongzi's Stamps: Malaysia 2016 Agong XIV

Monday, 12 December 2016

Malaysia 2016 Agong XIV - Sultan Abdul Halim

Almu'tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku Alhaj Sir Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, GCB KStJ is the 27th Sultan of Kedah. He is also serving as the 14th and current Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. 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.

Born on 28th November 1927 at Istana Anak Bukit near Alor Setar as Tunku Abdul Halim, he was the 2nd, but eldest surviving son, of Sultan Badlishah, who later became the 27th Sultan of Kedah. He is of Malay and Thai descent. His mother was a Kedah-born Thai lady named 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.

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

On 6 August 1949 he was appointed Raja Muda or heir apparent and succeeded as Sultan of Kedah on his father's death on 15 July 1958. He was installed at the Balai Besar in Alor Star on 20 February 1959.

Tuanku Abdul Halim married Tuanku Bahiyah of Negeri Sembilan in 1956. Tuanku Bahiyah served as the Sultanan of Kedah from 1958 – 2003 and Raja Permaisuri Agong from 1970- 2003. They have 3 daughters : twin Tunku Soraya and Tunku Sarina, and Tunku Intan Safinaz. Tuanku Bahiyah died on 26 August 2003 at Istana Kuala Cegar in Alor Star.

Tuanku Abdul Halim married a commener Cik Haminah bt Hamidun as a 2nd wife in 1975. Cik Haminah was titled Che Puan Kedah until 9 January 2004 when she was crowned as Sultanah.

Tuanku Abdul Halim was elected as the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and served his term in office from 21 Sep 1970 – 20 Sep 1975.

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. He is 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, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz of Selangor, who was installed at 73 years and 49 days old. He was officially installed on April 11, 2012 at Istana Negara.

Sultan Abdul Halim's tenure as Yang Di Pertuan Agong ended on 12 December 2016.