Che Puan Besar Haminah


Che Puan Besar Hajjah Haminah, formerly known as Sultanah Haminah is the former Sultanah consort of Malaysian State of Kedah and is the widow of Sultan Abdul Halim Mua'dzam Shah. Born a commoner from Bagan Serai, Perak, she married Sultan Abdul Halim on 25 December 1975, and as his second wife, she was styled as Che Puan Kedah. She was crowned Sultanah on 9 January 2004 at the Balai Penghadapan Istana Anak Bukit following the death of Tuanku Bahiyah, the previous Sultanah and first wife of Sultan Abdul Halim. She served as the 14th Raja Permaisuri Agong 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, her brother-in-law, Sultan Sallehuddin bestowed the title of Che Puan Besar of Kedah or equivalent to a Dowager Sultanah.

Early life

Born on 15 July 1953 in Kampung Matang Jelutong, Bagan Serai, Perak. She is the fourth of seven siblings born to father HE Haji Hamidun Taib and mother HE Hajjah Isma Muhammad. HRH Queen Dowager Haminah was educated at SK Matang Jelutong and later SM Inggeris Bagan Serai.

Royalty

On 25 December 1975, at age 23, Haminah married the HRH Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdul Halim and became his second wife. She received the title HH Che Puan Kedah. HRH Sultan Abdul Halim's first wife, Tuanku Bahiyah died on 26 August 2003. On 21 November 2003, HH Che Puan Haminah was proclaimed Sultanah Kedah. HRH coronation ceremony took place in the royal town of Anak Bukit on 9 January 2004.
Upon the installation of HRH Sultan Abdul Halim as HM The Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 13 December 2011, HRH Queen Dowager Haminah became HM The Raja Permaisuri Agong. HRH Queen Dowager Haminah is the fourth commoner who become a Raja Permaisuri Agong after HRH Tuanku Bainun binti Mohamad Ali of Perak, HRH Tengku Permaisuri Siti Aishah of Selangor and HRH 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 HRH Sultanah Hajjah Haminah 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 Yang Maha Mulia Che Puan Besar Kedah or Her Royal Highness The Che Puan Besar of Kedah. She is now formally addressed as HRH Queen Dowager Hajjah Haminah or simply HRH Tuanku Hajjah Haminah

Interests

HRH Queen Dowager Haminah is known to enjoy golf, tennis, badminton, lawn bowling and music. 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.

Awards and recognitions

She has been awarded the following honours:

Honours of Kedah

Several places were named after her, including: