Sultanah Bahiyah
| Bahiyah | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raja Permaisuri Agong | |||||||||
| Tenure | 20 September 1970 – 21 September 1975 | ||||||||
| Installation | 20 February 1971 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Tengku Intan Zaharah | ||||||||
| Successor | Tengku Zainab | ||||||||
| Sultanah of Kedah | |||||||||
| Tenure | 15 July 1958 – 26 August 2003 | ||||||||
| Installation | 20 February 1959 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Sultanah Asma | ||||||||
| Successor | Sultanah Haminah | ||||||||
| Born | 24 August 1930 Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan | ||||||||
| Died | 26 August 2003 (aged 73) Istana Kuala Cegar, Alor Setar, Kedah | ||||||||
| Burial | 27 August 2003 | ||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||
| Issue | Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Tunku Soraya Tunku Sarina | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | Pagaruyung Mahawangsa (by marriage) | ||||||||
| Father | Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad | ||||||||
| Mother | Tunku Kurshiah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin | ||||||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||||||
Sultanah Hajah Bahiyah binti Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Jawi: سلطانة حاجة باهيه بنت المرحوم توانكو عبدالرحمن; 24 August 1930 – 26 August 2003) was the Sultanah of Malaysian State of Kedah (1959–2003) and served as the fifth Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia from 21 September 1970 until 20 September 1975.
Early life[]
Tunku Bahiyah was born on 24 August 1930 in Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan. She was 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.
Marriage[]
Tunku Bahiyah married Tuanku Al-Mutassimu Billahi Muhibbudin Sultan Abdul Halim Al-Muadzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah of Kedah in 1956.
The royal couple had three daughters; two of whom are twins. They are Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Diraja Tunku Intan Shafinaz, Raja Puan Muda of Perak Dato’ Seri Diraja Tan Sri Tunku Hajjah Soraya and Tunku Sarina (died on 31 August 1991).
Becoming Queen[]
In 1958, Tuanku Abdul Halim became Sultan of Kedah. Tunku Bahiyah was installed as the Sultanah of Kedah with his ascension to the throne.
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.
Death[]
Sultanah Bahiyah died in her sleep at 12:23 pm of cancer and old age on 26 August 2003 at Istana Kuala Cegar, Alor Setar.[1] She was laid to rest at the Langgar Royal Mausoleum in Alor Setar.
Awards and recognition[]
Sultanah Bahiyah was conferred various awards, both locally and abroad. In 1970, Emperor Hirohito of Japan awarded her the First Class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure. Later in the same year, President Suharto of Indonesia awarded her the First Class of the .
In 1973, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand awarded her the Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao.
Sultanah 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 Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital.
There is a highway in Alor Setar, Sultanah Bahiyah Highway (Federal Route 
) was named after her.
SMK Sultanah Bahiyah, a secondary school in Alor Setar was named after her.
Sultanah Bahiyah Mosque, a mosque in Alor Setar was named after her.
Tuanku Bahiyah Residential College, a residential college at University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur was named in honour of her.
Social contributions[]
Tuanku Hajah Bahiyah was the patron of various organisations such as:
- Kedah Orchid Association
- Blood Donors Association of Malaysia
- Family Planning Association of Kedah
- Children’s Welfare Organisation of Kedah
- Islamic Women’s Welfare Organisation of Kedah
- Lioness Club of Kedah
- Netball Association of Kedah
- Women’s Association of Universiti Utara Malaysia (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
Honours[]
She has been awarded:[citation needed]
Honours of Kedah[]
Member of the Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK, 29 February 1964)
Member of the Halimi Family Order of Kedah (DKH, January 1976)
Knight Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah (SPMK, 19 February 1971)
Honours of Malaysia[]
Malaysia :
Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN, 19 February 1971)
Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN, 19 February 1959)
Johor :
First Class Member of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I, February 1989)
Kelantan :
Recipient of the Royal Family Order or Star of Yunus (DK, August 1996)
Negeri Sembilan :
Member of the Royal Family Order of Negeri Sembilan (DKNS, August 1996)
Foreign Honours[]
Indonesia:
1st Class of the Star of Mahaputera (Bintang Mahaputera Adipurna) (16 March 1970)
Imperial State of Iran :
1st class of the Order of the Pleiades (1974)
Commemorative Medal of the 2500th Anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire (14 October 1971).[2]
Japan:
Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (29 February 1970)
Thailand:
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao (1 February 1973)
See also[]
- Yang Di-Pertuan Agong
- Raja Permaisuri Agong
References[]
- ^ "Royal News — August 2003". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
- ^ Badraie Archived 2 March 2004 at the Wayback Machine
External links[]
- Tuanku Bahiyah Residential College official site
- 1930 births
- 2003 deaths
- Malaysian people of Minangkabau descent
- Malaysian Muslims
- People from Negeri Sembilan
- Royal House of Kedah
- Kedah royal consorts
- Malaysian royal consorts
- Alumni of the University of Nottingham
- Deaths from cancer in Malaysia
- Members of the Royal Family Order of Kedah
- Members of the Halimi Family Order of Kedah
- Knights Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah
- Grand Commanders of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
- Recipients of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 1st class
- Dames Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
- Royal House of Negeri Sembilan
- Malaysian queens consort
- Recipients of the Order of the Crown of the Realm