Last modified: 8 February 2024
The country
The state is formally known as Kedah Darul Aman, but usually called Kedah.
According to archaeological evidence a Hindu-Buddhist Kingdom once ruled the present-day Kedah, probably as early as the 2nd century. The Srivijaya Empire ruled the area in the 7th and 8th century. The Chola King Rajendra Chola conquered the city in 1025. Later the area was conquered by Siam, and in the 15th century by the Malay Sultanate of Malacca. The Portuguese attacked Kedah in the 17th century. At the end of the 18th century the sultan handed over Penang and the Province Wellesley to the British. Siam invaded Kedah in 1821, and Kedah was only transferred to the British in 1909. In World War II the Japanese invaded Kedah. The Japanese gave Kedah back to Siam, and Kedah was renamed into Syburi. After World War II Kedah was returned to Great Britain. In 1948 Kedah became part of the Federation of Malaya. Kedah is nowadays the eight largest state in Malaysia.
Sovereign
The current sovereign is Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, 28th Sultan of Kedah. He was born in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia on 30 April 1942.
He is the son of Sultan Badlishah of Kedah (1894-1958) and his second wife Tengku Asma binti Sultan Sulaiman of Terengganu (1917-1996).
Enthronement
Sultan Sallehuddin succeeded his half brother Sultan Abdul Halim after his death on 11 September 2017. He was proclaimed the new Sultan on 12 September 2017. He had been appointed Tunku Temenggong of Kedah on 28 November 1981. He was proclaimed the Raja Mudah of Kedah on 15 December 2016.
The installation took place at the Balai Besar, Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia, on 22 October 2018.
Other details
The Sultan is a Muslim (Sunni).
Marriage and descendants
Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah is married since 1965 to Tengku Maliha Tengku Ariff of Kelantan (born 1949).
Their children:
- Tunku Sarafuddin Badlishah
- Tunku Shazuddin Ariff (born 1970), who was granted the title of Tunku Laksamana of Kedah on 26 November 2017. On 19 June 2022 he was proclaimed as the Tunku Mahkota of Kedah. He is married since 2022 to Julie Gwee Chai Hong (Che Puan Nur Julie Ariff), who became Her Highness Tunku Puan Mahkota of Kedah.
Heir to the throne
The Raja Muda of Kedah is Tunku Sarafuddin Badlishah. He was born in Istana Hinggap, Kulim, Kedah, Malaysia on 2 March 1967.
He became the Tunku Laksamana of Kedah on 15 January 2017. He was proclaimed the Raja Muda of Kedah on 26. November 2017.
Tunku Sarafuddin Badlishah is married to Che Puan Muda Zaheeda Mohamad Ariff.
Their children:
- Tunku Zara Bahiyah (born 2004)
- Tunku Sulaiman Badlishah (born 2007)
Postal address
Istana Anak Bukit
Alor Setar
Kedah
Malaysia
Succession
The succession of the throne is according to the right of the first born male. The Sultan and his successor must be of Islamic faith.
Titles
The Sultan is Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan dan Yang di-Pertuan Negara Kedah Dar ul-Aman and is styled His Royal Highness. The principal wife of the Sultan is Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Sultanah … (personal name) binti … (father’s title and name), Sultanah Negeri Kedah and styled Her Royal Highness. The heir apparent is Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Tuanku Raja Muda Kedah Dar ul-Aman and is stylled His Highness. His royal consort is Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Tuanku Raja Puan Muda Kedah Dar ul-Aman (Raja Puan Muda of Kedah), and is styled Her Highness. The non-royal consort of the heir apparent is Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan Muda Kedah Dar ul-Aman. The heir presumptive is titled Yang Teramat Mulia Tunku Bendahara Kedah Dar ul- Aman. His royal consort is Yang Teramat Mulia Tunku Puan Bendahara Kedah Dar ul-Aman, and his non-royal consort Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan Kedah Dar ul-Aman. The regent of Kedah is Duli Yang Maha Mulia Pemangku Raja Negara Kedah Dar ul-Aman and styled His Highness. The sons of a ruler are Yang Teramat Mulia Tunku … (personal name) bin Sultan … (father’s name), the daughters are Yang Teramat Mulia Tunku … (personal name) … binti Sultan (father’s name). The grandsons of a ruler in male line are Yang Teramat Mulia Tunku … (personal name) bin Tunku … (father’s name), and the granddaughters of a ruler in male line are Yang Teramat Mulia Tunku … (personal name) binti Tunku … (father’s name). Other male members of the family in male line are Yang Mulia Tunku … (personal name) bin Tunku … (father’s name), and female members are Yang Mulia Tunku … (personal name) binti Tunku … (father’s name). The junior wives of a Sultan, heir apparent and other princes is Yang Mulia Che’ … (personal name) binti … (father’s title and name).
The Sultans of Kedah in the past two centuries
| Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Shah II (before 1757?-1845) | 1797-1843/45 |
| Zainal Rashid Mu’adzam Shah I (1803?-1854) | 1843/45-1854 |
| Ahmad Tajuddin Mukkaram Shah (1832-1879) | 1854-1879 |
| Zainal Rashid Mu’adzam Shah II (1857-1881) | 1879-1881 |
| Abdul Hamid Halim Shah II (1864-1943) | 1881-1943 |
| Badlishah (1894-1958) | 1943-1958 |
| Abdul Halim (1927-2017) | 1958-2017 |
| Sallehuddin (1942-) | 2017- |