Kedah’s Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah passed away at 2.30pm today.
Updated: A public holiday has been declared in Kedah on Tuesday as the state will observe a mourning period of seven days.
Tuanku Abdul Halim was born on Nov 28, 1927.
After the demise of his father, Sultan Badlishah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, he ascended the throne of Kedah on Jul 14, 1958. He was installed as the Sultan of Kedah on Feb 20, 1959.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo-PpI0i0Xc
He attended the Titi Gajah Malay School and then the Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Alor Setar. In 1952, when he was the Raja Muda of Kedah, he studied in Wadham College, Oxford, London, graduating in social science and public administration.
Tuanku Abdul Halim married Tuanku Hajah Bahiyah Tuanku Abdul Rahman on Mar 10, 1956. The couple were blessed with three princesses, Tunku Soraya, the late Tunku Sarina, and Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I6I4cSq2KQ
Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah passed away on Aug 26, 2003.
The Kedah ruler married a commoner from Perak, Che Puan Hajah Haminah Hamidun, who was proclaimed the new Sultanah of Kedah on Jan 9, 2004, taking on the title of Tuanku Sultanah Hajah Haminah.
Tuanku Abdul Halim was the only sultan who was Agong twice – first in 1970 and then in 2011. He ended his term as the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong last December.
Mentri Besar Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipa was informed of the Sultan’s death as soon as he arrived at the airport in Alor Star from Kuala Lumpur at about 2.40pm.