Kedah’s Sultan Abdul Halim passes away

PETALING JAYA: Kedah's Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (pix) has passed away today at the age of 89.
An official from the Kedah MB's office said 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.
Sultan Abdul Halim was the first Ruler to reign as Yang di-Pertuan Agong twice, as well as the oldest elected to the office.
Born on Nov 28, 1927, Sultan Abdul Halim served as the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia from 1970 to 1975, and as the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 2011 to 2016.
His reign as Sultan of Kedah began in 1958, making him the second longest-reigning monarch in the world and the second-oldest reigning monarch after Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
During his reign as Agong the first time, Sultan Abdul Halim presided over the change in leadership of the federal 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 his nephew, given strict Malay royal protocol, but agreed to stay on as prime minister for one day of Sultan Abdul Halim's reign.
Sultan Abdul Halim was officially installed as the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on April 11, 2012 at Istana Negara.
Sultan Abdul Halim's tenure as Yang di-Pertuan Agong ended on Dec 12, 2016.
Coincidentally, when Sultan Abdul Halim was Agong the second time, the Prime Minister was Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, the son of Tun Razak.
He was married twice, first to Sultanah Bahiyah, daughter of Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negri Sembilan, in 1956. She served as Sultanah of Kedah (1958-2003) and Raja Permaisuri Agong (1970-1975).
She died on Aug 26, 2003 at Istana Kuala Cegar in Alor Star. They had three daughters.
In 1975, Sultan Abdul Halim married Sultanah Haminah, a commoner from Perak.
She was bestowed the title Che Puan Kedah until Jan 9, 2004 when she was crowned as Sultanah.
She served as Raja Permaisuri Agong during his second term as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
She has no children.
Besides local honours, Sultan Abdul Halim has been bestowed various prestigious foreign awards for his contributions to the international community.
These include the Grand Cordon of The Order of the Rising Sun of Japan, Bintang Maha Putra Adipradana (Indonesia), Order of the Rammata Thailand, Honourable Knight Grand Cross Order of the Bath of UK, Associate Knight Order of St. John., Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum and Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (Japan), Collar of the Order of Charles III (Spain) and Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri (Thailand).
A number of public structures and buildings in Malaysia are also named after him.
These include Sultan Abdul Halim Highway in Alor Star, the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Penang, Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital and Sultan Abdul Halim Teachers' Trainee Institute in Sungai Petani and Sekolah Menengah Sultan Abdul Halim in Jitra, Kedah and the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge, also known as the Penang Second Bridge.
One of Kuala Lumpur's main arteries which was previously known as Jalan Duta was renamed as Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim on Nov 26, 2014.