Kedah Royal Family

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Today royal segment will cover about Kedah Royal Family. If Perlis Royal Family is the youngest in Malaysia, the lineage of Kedah Royal Family is the oldest in Malaysia. The ruler of Kedah is styled as HRH Sultan of Kedah.

The current Sultan of Kedah is HRH Sultan Abd Halim Muazzam Shah Ibni almarhum Sultan Badlishah. He is the 30th Sultan of Kedah. His reign started since 1958 and celebrated golden jubilee of his administration in 2008.


The consort to the ruler of Kedah is styled as HRH Sultanah of Kedah. The current holder is HRH Sultanah Haminah binti Hj Hamidon.

As the Sultan Abdul Halim currently served as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the Supreme Ruler) of Malaysia, a Regency Council was appointed by the Sultan consist of 4 members to rule the state on the absence of the Sultan. The members are :-

1. His Royal Highness the Tunku Bendahara of Kedah, Tunku Annuar ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah. The Chairman of the Regency Council. (Died)
2. His Royal Highness the Tunku Temenggong of Kedah, Tunku Sallehuddin ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah.
3. His Royal Highness the Tunku Laksamana of Kedah, Tunku Abdul Hamid Thani ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah.
4. Her Royal Highness the Tunku Panglima Besar of Kedah, Tunku Puteri Intan Shafinaz binti Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah.

HISTORY


The Royal House of Kedah is of great antiquity, originating in the Hindu age, and said to have been founded by a Prince from Sri Lanka. Eight generations of the family ruled over the state before the conversion to Islam in 1136. The state frequently fell to superior Siamese forces. Fearing another such invasion, Sultan Abdullah al-Mukarram Shah negotiated a Treaty of Friendship and Alliance with the HEIC in 1786, this entailed the cession of Pinang. The Siamese were forestalled for a time, but struck hard in 1821 and annexed the sultanate. After a severe financial crisis, Kedah was transferred to British sovereignty on 16th July 1909.

The then Sultan, Ahmad Taj ud-din III al-Mukarram Shah, had already reigned for 27 years and was set to reign for a further 34. Without financial acumen of any kind, a series of Royal Regents ruled in his stead for much of his reign. During the Japanese invasion, the seventy-seven year old Sultan fled into the jungles on the back of one of his eighteen sons. One of these was to become the first Prime Minister of the Malaya and Commonwealth and world-famous statesman, Tunku 'Abdu'l Rahman. Others were distinguished diplomats, civil servants and military officers. Sultan Ahmad Taj ud-din's grandson, Sultan al-Mu'tasimu Billah Muhib ud-din Alhaj 'Abdu'l Halim Mu'azzam Shah, ascended the throne in 1958 and served as King of the Federation from 1970 to 1975.


ROYAL FAMILY

Sultan of Kedah and family, Tunku Intan Shafinaz (in yellow) and Tunku Soraya (in red) and husband Raja Iskandar Zulkarnain ibni Sultan Idris Afifillah

Sultan Abd Halim Muadzam Shah married twice, First with Almarhumah Sultanah Bahiyah binti Tuanku Abd Rahman (d. 2003) and second with Sultanah Haminah Hamidon. His marriage is blessed with a daughter, which is his daughter with Sultanah Bahiyah. The Sultan and the late Sultanah Bahiyah also adopted two daughters.

1. Tunku Intan Shafinaz (1966)
   
   (adopted)

1. Tunku Sarina (1960 - 1991)
2. Tunku Soraya (1960)

PALACE


Official palace and royal seat to the Sultan of Kedah is Istana Anak Bukit (Anak Bukit Palace) located at the royal town of Anak Bukit, Kedah. The Istana Anak Bukit is the largest palace in northern peninsular.

INHERITANCE


Male primogeniture amongst the Kedah Royal Family. The Sultan, and his successor, must be adherents of the Islamic faith :-

**line of successions

1. Tunku Abd Malik Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, Raja Muda Kedah
2. Colonel Tunku Salehuddin ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, Tengku Paduka Maharaja Temenggong Anggota Desa
3. Tunku Sarafuddin Badlishah bin Tunku Salehuddin
4. Tunku Abd Hamid Thani ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, Tengku Laksamana

**subject to changes
The late Tunku Annuar ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah were survived by three sons. 
i) Tunku Putra Badlishah bin Tunku Annuar Al-Haj
ii) Tunku Johanez bin Tunku Annuar Al-Haj
iii) Tunku Azudin Shah bin Tunku Annuar Al-Haj
Their status in the line of succession is unknown. Possibly by-passed if according to Malay customs where the brother of the Sultan to succeed first.


GALERIA
Some of the pictures of the royal family.


i) The picture of HM the Sultan of Kedah and HM the Sultanah of Kedah and his only child, HRH the Tunku Panglima Besar of Kedah

Sultan Abd Halim and Sultanah Haminah during golden jubilee celebration

HRH Tunku Putri Intan Shafinaz ibni Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah

ii) His Royal Highness the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Kedah and wife, HRH Raja Puan Muda (Crown Princess) of Kedah

HRH Tunku Abdul Malik bin Almarhum Sultan Badlishah and HRH Tunku Raudzah binti almarhum Sultan Hishamuddin

iii) His Royal Highness the Tunku Bendahara of Kedah and wife, Toh Puan Bendahara of Kedah, and his sons.

HRH Tunku Annuar ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah and Toh Puan Noor Suzanna Abdullah


HH Dato' Tunku Putra Badlishah, eldest son of HRH Tunku Annuar


HH Tunku Johanez bin HRH Tunku Annuar

iv) His Royal Highness the Tunku Temenggong of Kedah, Tunku Salehuddin ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah and wife.



v) His Royal Highness the Tunku Laksamana of Kedah, Tunku Abdul Hamid Thani ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah and wife.