Che Puan Besar Hajah Haminah binti Haji Hamidun (Jawi: چئ ڤوان بسر حاجة همينة بنت حميدون), formerly known as Sultanah Haminah (born Haminah binti Hamidun; 15 July 1953) is the former Sultanah of Kedah and the widow of Sultan Abdul Halim Mua'dzam Shah. Born as a commoner, she married Sultan Abdul Halim on 25 December 1975 as his second wife. She served as the 14th Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen consort) of Malaysia from 2011 to 2016, during her husband's second term as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Malaysian federal head of state. After her husband's death in September 2017, his successor and her brother-in-law Sultan Sallehuddin, bestowed upon her the title Che Puan Besar of Kedah, roughly equivalent to the queen dowager.
| Haminah همينة | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Raja Permaisuri Agong XIV | |||||
| Tenure | 13 December 2011 - 12 December 2016 | ||||
| Installation | 11 April 2012 | ||||
| Predecessor | Tuanku Nur Zahirah | ||||
| Successor | Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah | ||||
| Sultanah of Kedah | |||||
| Tenure | 21 November 2003 - 11 September 2017 | ||||
| Installation | 9 January 2004 | ||||
| Predecessor | Sultanah Bahiyah | ||||
| Successor | Sultanah Maliha | ||||
| Che Puan Besar of Kedah | |||||
| Tenure | 21 January 2018 - present | ||||
| Predecessor | Tunku Ampuan Asma (as Tunku Ampuan) | ||||
| Born | Haminah binti Hamidun 15 July 1953 Kampung Matang Jelutong, Bagan Serai, Perak, Malaya | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| |||||
| Father | Haji Hamidun bin Taib | ||||
| Mother | Hajah Isma binti Mohamad | ||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||
Early life edit
Born on 15 July 1953 in Kampung Matang Jelutong, Bagan Serai, Perak. She is the fourth of seven siblings born to father Haji Hamidun bin Taib and mother Hajah Isma binti Mohamad. Tuanku Hajah Haminah was educated at Sekolah Kebangsaan Matang Jelutong and later Sekolah Menengah Inggeris Bagan Serai.[1]
Titles and styles edit
On 25 December 1975, at age 23, Haminah married HRH The Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdul Halim and became his second wife. She received the title Che Puan (Princess consort) of Kedah.[1] HRH Sultan Abdul Halim's first wife, Sultanah Bahiyah died on 26 August 2003. On 21 November 2003, HH Che Puan Haminah was proclaimed as the Sultanah of Kedah. Her installation took place in the royal town of Anak Bukit on 9 January 2004.[2]
Upon the installation of HRH Sultan Abdul Halim as HM The Yang di-Pertuan Agong XIV on 13 December 2011, HRH Sultanah Hajah Haminah became HM The Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia.[3] HM Tuanku Hajah Haminah then became the fourth commoner who becomes the Raja Permaisuri Agong after Tuanku Bainun of Perak, Tuanku Siti Aishah of Selangor and Tuanku Nur Zahirah of Terengganu.
Following the demise of HRH Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah on 11 September 2017, she has been formally addressed as Sultanah Hajah Haminah, the Sultanah Dowager during a brief period of time.
On 21 January 2018, in conjunction with the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Sallehuddin's 76th birthday, she was conferred the title Her Royal Highness The Che Puan Besar of Kedah. She is now formally addressed as Che Puan Besar Hajah Haminah or simply Tuanku Hajah Haminah.
Interests edit
Tuanku Hajah Haminah is known to enjoy golf, tennis, badminton, lawn bowling and music.[4] She has participated in various golf tournaments in Kedah and initiated amateur women's golf tournaments such as the Kedah International Red Tee Invitational, as well as being invited as the royal guest for the International Lawn Bowls Mahsuri Cup in Langkawi.[5] She also served as the first Chancellor of Management and Science University from 2004 until 2019.
Orders and recognitions edit
She has been awarded the following honours:[citation needed]
Honours of Kedah edit
Member of the Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK, 9 January 2004).
Member of the Halimi Family Order of Kedah (DKH, 15 July 2008).[6]
Member of the Supreme Order of Sri Mahawangsa (DMK, 20 January 2017) with title Dato' Seri Utama.[7]
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Honours of Malaysia edit
Malaysia :
Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN, 26 January 2012)[8][9]
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Foreign honours edit
Japan:
Grand Cordon (Paulownia) of the Order of the Precious Crown (3 October 2012)
Thailand:
Dame Grand Cross (First Class) of the Order of Chula Chom Klao (2 September 2013)[citation needed]
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Places named after her edit
Several places were named after her, including:
- Sultanah Haminah Mosque in Pendang, Kedah
- Taman Tuanku Haminah, a residential area in Sungai Petani, Kedah
- Pusat Perdagangan Tuanku Haminah, a trade centre in Alor Setar, Kedah
- Dewan Tuanku Permaisuri Hajah Haminah, a ceremony hall at the Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah in Kuala Ketil, Kedah
- Yayasan Anak-anak Yatim Sultanah Haminah, an orphanage foundation in Kedah
References edit
- ^ a b Alina Simon (10 January 2004). "New Sultanah of Kedah crowned". New Straits Times. p. 4.
- ^ "Che' Puan Kedah is proclaimed KDYMM Sultanah of Kedah". utusan.com.my/. Utusan Online. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ Adib Povera (13 December 2011). "Grand send-off for KDYMM Sultan of Kedah". New Straits Times. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ^ "Che' Puan Haminah dimasyhur Sultanah Kedah". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). 10 January 2004. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012.
- ^ Embun Majid (2011-12-13). "Queen of the rakyat's heart". The Star. Daulat Tuanku, p. 4.
- ^ Photo of Sultan Abdul Halim and Sultanah Haminah
- ^ with title:Dato' Seri Utama Thestar
- ^ Photo Archived 2013-04-02 at the Wayback Machine of Abdul Halim and Haminah, King and Queen of Malaysia (2011-)
- ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang, dan Pingat Persekutuan". Archived from the original on 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
