Tuanku Bahiyah
Encyclopedia
Tuanku Bahiyah ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman (August 24, 1930 – August 26, 2003) was the Sultanah of Kedah
(1959–2003) and served as the fifth Raja Permaisuri Agong
of Malaysia from 1970 to 1975.
, Negeri Sembilan
. She is the eldest daughter of Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad and Tunku Kurshiah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar
and the Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan
, who were then elected the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong
and Raja Permaisuri Agong
of Malaysia.
She received her education at a Malay School in Seri Menanti
and the Seremban Convent School. She later furthered her studies in United Kingdom
and received a degree in Social Science from University of Nottingham
.
in 1956.
The royal couple had three daughters; two of whom are twins. They are Dato’ Seri Tunku Intan Shafinaz, Dato’ Seri Tunku Soraya and Tunku Sarina (died on 31 August 1991).
From 1970, she served her five year term as Raja Permaisuri Agong
or Queen of Malaysia when Tuanku Abdul Halim became the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
of Japan
awarded her the First Class Order of Sacred Treasure. Later in the same year, President Suharto of Indonesia
awarded her the First Class Order of Bintang Maha Putera.
Tuanku Bahiyah was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Education by the University of Malaya
where she served as the Chancellor from 1972 until 1986.
The general hospital in Alor Setar which is also the main referral and tertiary health centre in Northern Peninsular Malaysia
was renamed in her honour to Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah
.
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
(1959–2003) and served as the fifth Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong, or in full, Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong, is the title given to the Queen of Malaysia, consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.The holders of this office have been:...
of Malaysia from 1970 to 1975.
Early life
Tuanku Bahiyah was born on August 24, 1930 in Seri MenantiSeri Menanti
Seri Menanti is the royal capital of the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Situated in the Kuala Pilah district, it houses the seat of the head of state or Yamtuan Besar, the local equivalent of theSultan...
, Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
. She is the eldest daughter of Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad and Tunku Kurshiah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar
Yamtuan Besar
Yamtuan Besar, also known as Yang di-Pertuan Besar, is the royal title of the ruler of the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan. The ruler of Negeri Sembilan is selected by a council of ruling chiefs in the state, or the datuk-datuk undang. This royal practice has been followed since 1773...
and the Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
, who were then elected the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
and Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong, or in full, Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong, is the title given to the Queen of Malaysia, consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.The holders of this office have been:...
of Malaysia.
She received her education at a Malay School in Seri Menanti
Seri Menanti
Seri Menanti is the royal capital of the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Situated in the Kuala Pilah district, it houses the seat of the head of state or Yamtuan Besar, the local equivalent of theSultan...
and the Seremban Convent School. She later furthered her studies in United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and received a degree in Social Science from University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
.
Marriage
Tuanku Bahiyah married Tuanku Al-Mutassimu Billahi Muhibbudin Sultan Abdul Halim Al-Muadzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah of KedahKedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
in 1956.
The royal couple had three daughters; two of whom are twins. They are Dato’ Seri Tunku Intan Shafinaz, Dato’ Seri Tunku Soraya and Tunku Sarina (died on 31 August 1991).
Becoming Queen
In 1958, Tuanku Abdul Halim became Sultan of Kedah. Tunku Bahiyah was installed the second Sultanah of Kedah with his ascension to the throne.From 1970, she served her five year term as Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong, or in full, Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong, is the title given to the Queen of Malaysia, consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.The holders of this office have been:...
or Queen of Malaysia when Tuanku Abdul Halim became the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Social contributions
Tuanku Hajah Bahiyah was the patron of various organizations such as:- Kedah Orchid Association
- Blood Donors Association of Malaysia
- Family Planning Association of Kedah
- Children’s Welfare Organization of Kedah
- Islamic Women’s Welfare Organization of Kedah
- Lioness Club of Kedah
- Netball Association of Kedah
- Women’s Association of Universiti Utara MalaysiaUniversiti Utara MalaysiaUniversiti Utara Malaysia is a public university in the town of Sintok, Kedah. Utara means 'northern' in the Malay language. It was formally incorporated on 16 February 1984. The university was established with the specific mission of providing a leadership role for management education in the...
(SUTRANITA) - Nottingham Graduates Association
- Ex-Servicemen Widows and Wives Association (BAKIABAH)
- Kedah Association for the Disabled
- Kedah Thalassaemia Association
- Association of Sultanah Bahiyah Secondary School Students
Awards and Recognition
Tuanku Bahiyah was conferred various awards, both locally and abroad. In 1970, Emperor HirotoHirohito
, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
awarded her the First Class Order of Sacred Treasure. Later in the same year, President Suharto of Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
awarded her the First Class Order of Bintang Maha Putera.
Tuanku Bahiyah was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Education by the University of Malaya
University of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
where she served as the Chancellor from 1972 until 1986.
The general hospital in Alor Setar which is also the main referral and tertiary health centre in Northern Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...
was renamed in her honour to Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah
Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah
Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah is a government-funded multi-specialty hospital located in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia. It is the biggest hospital in the state as well as the main referral and tertiary health centre for Northern Peninsular Malaysia....
.
External links
- Tuanku Bahiyah Residential College official site