HIS Royal Highness Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah will continue to prioritise the people’s prosperity, stability and safety amid the Ruler’s 84th birthday celebration.
The revered monarch has always ruled with compassion, love and concern, bringing peace and abundant blessings to the people and the state throughout His Royal Highness’ reign.
Gazetted as a public holiday, today marks the official birthday of the 29th Sultan of Kedah whose actual birthday falls on April 30.
The celebration is marked by a host of programmes including an investiture ceremony for awards, medals and honours at Istana Anak Bukit.
Also lined up are a Yasin recital and thanksgiving ceremony at Masjid Zahir, a guard of honour parade at Dataran Medan Bandar and a state banquet to be attended by state leaders and dignitaries at Istana Anak Bukit.
His Royal Highness’ dedication to the people is evident in the coffee table book the Ruler authored in 2022. Titled From Soldier to King: The Journey, the book symbolises the Ruler’s sincere and enduring love for the people.
“As long as I live, nostalgically armed with the soul of a warrior that I inherited with my military title, the welfare and well-being of the people of Kedah Darul Aman will always be my ultimate priority,” His Royal Highness pledged.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin was born on April 30, 1942, in Alor Setar and is the ninth of 14 siblings born to the late Sultan Badlishah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, the 27th Sultan of Kedah.
His Royal Highness’ mother, Almarhumah Sultanah Asma Almarhum Sultan Sulaiman, was the daughter of the Sultan of Terengganu, Almarhum Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin’s early education began at Sekolah Melayu Alor Merah and later continued at Sultan Abdul Hamid College, where His Royal Highness had the opportunity to interact with students from different races and backgrounds.
His Royal Highness was actively involved in various activities including rugby, football and the debate team.
The Ruler’s most unforgettable experience was participating in a four-day bamboo rafting expedition from Sungai Sik to Sungai Kuala Muda in 1958.
Following His Royal Highness’ graduation from Senior Cambridge, Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin worked as a temporary teacher at Sekolah Kebangsaan Iskandar, Alor Setar, in 1962.
Acting on the advice of His Royal Highness’ elder brother, the late Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, and the Ruler’s deep interest in the military, Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin chose to undergo cadet training and was sent to the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, India, from July 23, 1962, to June 30, 1963.
Upon Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin’s return to the homeland, the monarch was commissioned as a Lieutenant on Feb 12, 1964, and subsequently posted to the 2nd Battalion Royal Malay Regiment in Pengkalan Chepa in Kota Baru, Kelantan.
During His Royal Highness’ time in the service, the Ruler was engaged in security operations along the common border with Thailand in the states of Kelantan, Kedah and Perak.
A critical stint was the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation where the Sultan’s battalion was active at Kalabakan and the Indonesia-Malaysia border such as Kampong Mentadah, Simpang Tiga and Apas Balong.
The 2nd Battalion was later transferred to Pengkalan Chepa in 1965 and subsequently to Kem Sungai Besi in 1966. The following year, the battalion was based in Sarawak conducting operations at the Indonesia/Malaysia border until 1968.
In 1969, Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin was stationed at Tok Jalai Camp in Kedah. During the critical May 1969 incident, His Royal Highness’ battalion was involved in an operation in Penang.
His Royal Highness retired from the Armed Forces on Feb 14, 1974.
During Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin’s retirement break, the Ruler underwent training at the National Productivity Council and the Malaysian Institute of Management, as well as management courses in the United States.
The monarch has broad experience in the corporate world, especially in property development, logging and construction.
The Sultan’s involvement in various fields has certainly made His Royal Highness more aware of public development issues such as the importance of education, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), basic facilities, water treatment, housing, agriculture, plantations, transportation, roads, natural resources and waqf.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin is also deeply interested in history, especially the history of Kedah. His Royal Highness believes that historical literacy helps to develop the minds of the people and foster love for the state and country.
The Ruler’s steadfast commitment for the well-being of the people and environment sustainability have constantly been reminded in speeches, especially at the policy-making stage, such as during the opening of the State Legislative Assembly.
This love and concern have also led to His Royal Highness constantly visiting, reminding and being briefed on the impact of development in the state.
His Royal Highness’ views on the needs and aspirations of the people have made it possible for the Ruler to articulate the various aspects of social and physical development.
The Ruler’s speeches always emphasise the importance of scholarship based on theology, humanity, organised society and sustainable environment.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin possesses a friendly yet firm character when it comes to decision-making and is meticulous about appearance.
The Ruler’s military training instilled the values of discipline, loyalty, hard work and respect, shaping His Royal Highness’ persona into that of a strict and precise individual. These qualities have greatly influenced the Ruler’s outlook on life beyond the palace.
His Royal Highness was conferred the rank of Brigadier General in 2007 and served as adviser to the territorial army when the Ruler was the Tunku Temenggong Kedah and later, as the Crown Prince.
Now as the Sultan, His Royal Highness is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Malay Regiment as well as the Royal Ordinance Corps.
The Ruler was conferred the Pahlawan Angkatan Tentera (PAT) or The Most Gallant Order of Military Service by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2012 for exceptional service in the Malaysian Armed Forces.
His Royal Highness is very active in sports, is an avid golfer and loves animals just like his late father. The monarch keeps cats of various breeds as pets.
During His Royal Highness’ leisure time, the Ruler also likes to go sightseeing
and travelling with his children and grandchildren.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin had met his consort, Her Royal Highness Sultanah Maliha Almarhum Tengku Ariff, who is from the royal family of Kelantan, when the Ruler was posted there with the Royal Malay Regiment.
The couple wed on Nov 26, 1965, and are blessed with two sons – Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah (the current Tuanku Raja Muda Kedah) born on March 2, 1967, and Tunku Shazuddin Ariff (the current Tunku Mahkota Kedah) born on April 27, 1970.
Tengku Sarafudin is married to Che Puan Muda Zaheeda and has two children, a prince and a princess, while Tunku Shazuddin is married to Che Puan Nur Julie Ariff.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin was proclaimed as Tunku Temenggong Kedah on Nov 28, 1981. His Royal Highness was also appointed as a member of the Kedah Council of Regency when the Ruler’s eldest brother, Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, served as the King from 2011 to 2016.
His Royal Highness later chaired that Council after the demise of his older brother, Almarhum Datuk Seri Utama Tan Sri Tunku Annuar, in 2014 and held the post until Dec 12, 2016.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin was proclaimed the 19th Raja Muda of Kedah on Dec 15, 2016, succeeding another elder brother, Almarhum Tunku Abdul Malik, who passed away on Nov 29, 2015.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin ascended the throne on Sept 12, 2017, succeeding his brother, the late Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.
The monarch holds several key positions, including chancellor of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) and Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah (UniSHAMS).
His Royal Highness was conferred the titles of Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Kelantan Yang Amat Mulia (SPMK) on
Nov 28, 2016, and Darjah Kerabat Yang Amat Dihormati (Al-Yunus), DK (Kelantan) on Sept 30, 2017.
The Ruler was also conferred the titles of Darjah Kerabat Kedah on Jan 15, 2017, Darjah Kerabat Johor Yang Amat Dihormati Pangkat Pertama DK 1 on Oct 30, 2017, and Darjah Kerabat DiRaja Yang Amat Dihormati Perak on Dec 4, 2017.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin also received the Darjah Kerabat Yang Amat Dihormati Selangor on Jan 25, 2018, Darjah Kerabat Negri Sembilan on Aug 21, 2018, Darjah Kerabat Baginda Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail (Perlis) on Sept 13, 2018, Darjah Mahkota Negara from the Prime Minister on Oct 15, 2018, and Darjah Kerabat Sri Indera Mahkota Pahang on Sept 5, 2019.
