Tunku Puan Besar Hajah Kurshiah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin (
Jawi: تونكو ڤوان بسر قرشية بنت المرحوم تونكو بسر برهان الدين; 16 May 1911 – 2 February 1999) was the Tunku Ampuan Besar or Queen of
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan'') is a state in Malaysia which lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the s ...
. She also served as the first
Raja Permaisuri Agong
''Raja Permaisuri Agong'' ( Jawi: راج ڤرمايسوري اݢوڠ; full title: ''Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong''; سري ڤدوک بݢيندا راج ڤرمايسوري اݢوڠ, literally ''The Que ...
of Malaya between 1957 and 1960.
Tunku Kurshiah's sister, Tunku Durah married her stepson Tuanku Munawir Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman and succeeded her as Tunku Ampuan Besar in 1940.
Early life
Born on 16 May 1911 in
Seri Menanti
Seri Menanti (Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Soghi Monanti'') is a town, a mukim and a state assembly constituency in Kuala Pilah District, in central Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It is the royal capital of the state of Negeri Sembilan and houses t ...
,
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan'') is a state in Malaysia which lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the s ...
, she was the eldest daughter of
Tunku Besar Burhanuddin ibni Almarhum Tuanku Antah (sometime Regent of Negeri Sembilan). She received her early education at the Seri Menanti Malay School. She also attended private English classes.
Becoming Queen
Tuanku Kurshiah married
Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad
Tuanku Sir Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad ( Jawi: ; 24 August 1895 – 1 April 1960) was the first Paramount Ruler or Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the Federation of Malaya, eighth Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Seri Menanti and second Ya ...
, the ruler of Negeri Sembilan as his third wife. Upon her husband's accession to the throne of Negeri Sembilan in 1933, Tunku Kurshiah was proclaimed Tunku Ampuan Besar or Queen of Negeri Sembilan.
In 1957, her husband was elected as the first
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (, Jawi: ), also known as the Supreme Head of the Federation, the Paramount Ruler or simply as the Agong, and unofficially as the King of Malaysia, is the constitutional monarch and head of state of Malaysia. The of ...
of independent
Malaya
Malaya refers to a number of historical and current political entities related to what is currently Peninsular Malaysia in Southeast Asia:
Political entities
* British Malaya (1826–1957), a loose collection of the British colony of the Straits ...
(later
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
) and she became the first
Raja Permaisuri Agong
''Raja Permaisuri Agong'' ( Jawi: راج ڤرمايسوري اݢوڠ; full title: ''Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong''; سري ڤدوک بݢيندا راج ڤرمايسوري اݢوڠ, literally ''The Que ...
or Queen.
Tuanku Abdul Rahman died in April 1960 and Tunku Kurshiah was given the title of Tunku Puan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
Social contributions
In 1954, Tuanku Kurshiah was appointed as the President of the Negeri Sembilan Girl Guides. She was also the patron of the Women’s Institute of Negeri Sembilan.
In May 1961, she established the Muslim Women Welfare Council and to date she is the Founder President.
On 27 October 1974, she was awarded the Tun Fatimah Gold Medal by the National Council of Women’s Organisations for her contribution in elevating the standard of women and children through welfare and education.
Family life and death
Tunku Kurshiah was blessed with two daughters;
Tuanku Bahiyah
Sultanah Hajah Bahiyah binti Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman ( ms, سلطانة حاجة باهية بنت المرحوم توانكو عبدالرحمن, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset; 24 August 1930 – 26 August 2003) was the Sultanah ...
, who became Sultanah of
Kedah
Kedah (), also known by its honorific Darul Aman (Islam), Aman and historically as Queda, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area ...
and Tunku Shahariah, who became Tunku Puan
Bendahara
Bendahara ( Jawi: بنداهارا) is an administrative position within classical Malay kingdoms comparable to a vizier before the intervention of European powers during the 19th century. A bendahara was appointed by a sultan and was a heredit ...
of
Johor
Johor (; ), also spelled as Johore, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia in the south of the Malay Peninsula. Johor has land borders with the Malaysian states of Pahang to the north and Malacca and Negeri Sembilan ...
.
Tunku Kurshiah died in her sleep at 4:50 pm due to old age and from an illness in
Kuala Lumpur
, anthem = '' Maju dan Sejahtera''
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia
, pushpin_map_caption =
, coordinates =
, su ...
on 2 February 1999 and her remains are buried at the
Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum
Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum is a Negeri Sembilan royal mausoleum located in the royal town of Seri Menanti, Kuala Pilah District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. This mausoleum is located next to the Tuanku Munawir Royal Mosque.
List of graves
...
in
Seri Menanti
Seri Menanti (Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Soghi Monanti'') is a town, a mukim and a state assembly constituency in Kuala Pilah District, in central Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It is the royal capital of the state of Negeri Sembilan and houses t ...
.
Family of Queens
Tunku Kurshiah due to her royal lineage has links to many former queens of
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan'') is a state in Malaysia which lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the s ...
but also has links with many of the royal families of the other states. Her daughter
Tuanku Bahiyah
Sultanah Hajah Bahiyah binti Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman ( ms, سلطانة حاجة باهية بنت المرحوم توانكو عبدالرحمن, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset; 24 August 1930 – 26 August 2003) was the Sultanah ...
became Sultanah of Kedah and later the fifth
Raja Permaisuri Agong
''Raja Permaisuri Agong'' ( Jawi: راج ڤرمايسوري اݢوڠ; full title: ''Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong''; سري ڤدوک بݢيندا راج ڤرمايسوري اݢوڠ, literally ''The Que ...
. Both her younger sisters succeeded her as Tunku Ampuan Besar, first by Tunku Ampuan Durah who was married to her eldest stepson Tuanku Munawir and second by her youngest sister
Tuanku Najihah
Tunku Ampuan Najihah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin ( Jawi: تونكو امڤوان ناجحة بنت المرحوم تونكو بسر برهان الدين; born 1 September 1923) is the Tunku Ampuan of Negeri Sembilan. She was formerl ...
, who married her youngest stepson
Tuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman
Tuanku Ja’afar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman ( Jawi: ; 19 July 1922 – 27 December 2008) was the tenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia from 26 April 1994 until 25 April 1999 and the tenth Yang Di-Pertuan Besar (Ruler) of Negeri ...
.
Tuanku Najihah
Tunku Ampuan Najihah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin ( Jawi: تونكو امڤوان ناجحة بنت المرحوم تونكو بسر برهان الدين; born 1 September 1923) is the Tunku Ampuan of Negeri Sembilan. She was formerl ...
also followed in Tunku Kurshiah's footsteps and served as the 10th
Raja Permaisuri Agong
''Raja Permaisuri Agong'' ( Jawi: راج ڤرمايسوري اݢوڠ; full title: ''Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong''; سري ڤدوک بݢيندا راج ڤرمايسوري اݢوڠ, literally ''The Que ...
.
Awards and recognitions
Honours
* :
** Grand Commander of the
Order of the Defender of the Realm
The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm ( ms, Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara) is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace o ...
(SMN) - Tun (1958)
** Recipient of the
Order of the Crown of the Realm
The Most Exalted Order of the Crown of the Realm ( ms, Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara) is a Malaysian federal award. It is ranked lower than the Order of the Royal Family of Malaysia.
It should not be confused with the Order of Loyalty to the ...
(DMN) (1980)
* :
**
![MY-KED Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/MY-KED_Royal_Family_Order_of_Kedah_%28DK%29.svg)
Member of the
Royal Family Order of Kedah
The Most Illustrious Royal Family Order of Kedah (Bahasa Melayu: ''Darjah Kerabat Yang Amat Mulia Kedah'') is an honorific order of the Sultanate of Kedah.
History
It was founded by Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah on 21 February 1964.
Classes
I ...
(DK) (29 February 1964)
* :
**
![MY-NEG Royal Family Order of Negeri Sembilan - DKNS](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/MY-NEG_Royal_Family_Order_of_Negeri_Sembilan_-_DKNS.svg)
Member of the
Royal Family Order of Negeri Sembilan
Royal may refer to:
People
* Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name
* A member of a royal family
Places United States
* Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community
* Royal, Illinois, a village
* Royal, Iowa, a ci ...
(D.K.N.S.)
Places named after her
Several places were named after her, including:
* Jalan Tunku Kurshiah in
Seremban
Seremban (Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Soghomban'', ''Somban''; Jawi: ) is a city in the Seremban District and the capital of the state of Negeri Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia. The city's administration is run by the Seremban City Council. Sere ...
,
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan'') is a state in Malaysia which lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the s ...
* Taman Tunku Kurshiah (residential area in Seremban)
*
Tunku Kurshiah College
Kolej Tunku Kurshiah ( en, Tunku Kurshiah College; abbreviated TKC; formerly known as ''Malay Girls College; abbreviated MGC''), is a premier boarding school located in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. TKC is one of the best all-girls residential s ...
(renamed from Maktab Perempuan Melayu)
* SK Tunku Kurshiah, primary school in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan
* SMK Tunku Kurshiah, secondary school in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan
* The
University of Malaya
The University of Malaya ( ms, Universiti Malaya, UM; abbreviated as UM or informally the Malayan University) is a public research university located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is the oldest and highest ranking Malaysian institution of highe ...
also renamed its Third Residential College to Tunku Kurshiah Residential College.
See also
*
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (, Jawi: ), also known as the Supreme Head of the Federation, the Paramount Ruler or simply as the Agong, and unofficially as the King of Malaysia, is the constitutional monarch and head of state of Malaysia. The of ...
*
Raja Permaisuri Agong
''Raja Permaisuri Agong'' ( Jawi: راج ڤرمايسوري اݢوڠ; full title: ''Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong''; سري ڤدوک بݢيندا راج ڤرمايسوري اݢوڠ, literally ''The Que ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kurshiah, Tunku
Malaysian royal consorts
Negeri Sembilan royal consorts
1911 births
1999 deaths
Royal House of Negeri Sembilan
Malaysian Muslims
Malaysian people of Minangkabau descent
Grand Commanders of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
20th-century Malaysian politicians
Malaysian queens consort
Recipients of the Order of the Crown of the Realm