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 Sultana or sultanah (; ar, سلطانة ') is a female Royal and noble ranks, royal title, and the feminine form of the word sultan. This term has been officially used for Queen regnant, female monarchs in some Islamic states, and historically ...

of Malaysian State of Kedah (1959–2003) and served as 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 ...

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 ...

from 21 September 1970 until 20 September 1975.

Early life

Tunku Bahiyah was born on 24 August 1930 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 ...

, Negeri Sembilan. She was the eldest daughter of

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 ...

and his third wife

Tunku Kurshiah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin 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 Que ...

, the

Yang di-Pertuan Besar In Malay, Yang di-Pertuan Besar, literally ''"He Who Is Made Chief Ruler"'', is a title given to the head of state in segments of the Malay Archipelago. In Malaysia # Also known as Yamtuan Besar, it is the title of the elected monarch of the st ...

and the Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, who were then 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 o ...

and

. She received her education at a Malay School in

and the Seremban Convent School. She later furthered her studies in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

and received a degree in Social Science from

University of Nottingham , mottoeng = A city is built on wisdom , established = 1798 – teacher training college1881 – University College Nottingham1948 – university status , type = Public , chancellor ...

Marriage

Tunku Bahiyah married Tuanku Al-Mutassimu Billahi Muhibbudin Sultan Abdul Halim Al-Muadzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah of

Kedah Kedah (), also known by its honorific Darul Aman and historically as Queda, 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 ...

in 1956. The royal couple adopted the twin daughters of Tunku Hamidah (Tuanku Abdul Halim's eldest sister), Tunku Soraya and Tunku Sarina (born 30 April 1960, adopted 3 May 1960). Bahiyah gave birth to a daughter, Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz, on 22 July 1966. Tunku Soraya would go on to marry

Raja Iskandar Dzurkarnain Raja Iskandar Dzurkarnain ibni Almarhum Sultan Idris Iskandar Al-Mutawakkil Alallahi Shah Afifullah (born 8 February 1955) is the ''Raja Di-Hilir'' (Deputy Crown Prince) of Perak and the second in the line of succession to the throne of the M ...

(the current ''Raja Di-Hilir'' of Perak) in 1986. Tunku Sarina passed away on 31 August 1991.

Becoming Queen

In 1958, Tuanku Abdul Halim became Sultan of Kedah. Tunku Bahiyah was installed as the Sultanah of Kedah on his ascension to the throne. From 1970 to 1975, she served her five-year term as

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. She was laid to rest at the

Langgar Royal Mausoleum Kedah Royal Mausoleum or Langgar Royal Mausoleum ( ms, Makam Diraja Langgar) is a Kedah royal burial grounds. It is located in Langgar, Kota Setar District, Kedah, Malaysia. List of graves Sultan graves * Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin Mu'adz ...

in Alor Setar.

Awards and recognition

Sultanah Bahiyah was conferred various awards, both locally and abroad. In 1970,

Emperor Hirohito Emperor , commonly known in English-speaking countries by his personal name , was the 124th emperor of Japan, ruling from 25 December 1926 until his death in 1989. Hirohito and his wife, Empress Kōjun, had two sons and five daughters; he was ...

of Japan awarded her the First Class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure. Later in the same year,

President Suharto Suharto (; ; 8 June 1921 – 27 January 2008) was an Indonesian army officer and politician, who served as the second and the longest serving president of Indonesia. Widely regarded as a military dictator by international observers, Suharto l ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

awarded her the First Class of the Order of the Star of Mahaputera. In 1973,

King Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

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 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 ...

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 ( ms, Semenanjung Malaysia; Jawi: سمننجڠ مليسيا), or the States of Malaya ( ms, Negeri-negeri Tanah Melayu; Jawi: نڬري-نڬري تانه ملايو), also known as West Malaysia or the Malaysian Peninsula, ...

was renamed in her honour to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital. There is a highway in Alor Setar,

Sultanah Bahiyah Highway The Sultanah Bahiyah Highwayhttp://www.federalgazette.agc.gov.my/outputp/pua_20110912_Perintah%20Jalan%20Persekutuan%20(Malaysia%20Barat)%20(Pindaan)%20(No.11)%202011-sultanah%20bahiyah.pdf (Malay: ''Lebuhraya Sultanah Bahiyah''), Federal Route ...

( 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

, 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 Universiti Utara Malaysia (literally meaning Northern University of Malaysia, abbreviated as UUM) is a management university established on 16 February 1984 under the Universiti Utara Malaysia 1984 Order. It has a main campus in Sintok, Kedah ...

(SUTRANITA) * Nottingham Graduates Association * Ex-Servicemen Widows and Wives Association (BAKIABAH) * Kedah Association for the Disabled * Kedah

Thalassaemia Thalassemias are inherited blood disorders characterized by decreased hemoglobin production. Symptoms depend on the type and can vary from none to severe. Often there is mild to severe anemia (low red blood cells or hemoglobin). Anemia can result ...

Association * Association of Sultanah Bahiyah Secondary School Students

Honours

She has been awarded:

Honours of Kedah

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 It ...

(DK, 29 February 1964) * MY-KED Halimi Family Order of Kedah (DKH)

Member of the

Halimi Family Order of Kedah The Most Illustrious Halimi Family Order of Kedah (Bahasa Melayu: ''Darjah Kerabat Halimi Yang Amat Mulia Kedah'') is an honorific order of the Sultanate of Kedah History It was founded by Sultan 'Abdu'l Halim Mu'azzam Shah of Kedah in January ...

(DKH, January 1976) * Knight Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah (SPMK, 19 February 1971)

Honours of Malaysia

* : ** 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 ...

(SMN) - Tun (19 February 1959) ** Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN) (19 February 1971) * : **

Most Esteemed Royal Family Order of Johor - ribbon bar

First Class Member of the

Royal Family Order of Johor The Most Esteemed Royal Family Order of Johor (Bahasa Melayu : ''Darjah Kerabat Johor Yang Amat Dihormati''),World Medal IndexDecorations of Johor/ref>Colecciones Militares (Antonio Prieto Barrio)Decorations of Johor/ref> is a chivalrous order a ...

(DK I) (February 1989) * : ** MY-KEL Royal Family Order - Star of Yunus - DK

Recipient of the Royal Family Order or ''Star of Yunus'' (DK, August 1996) * : ** MY-NEG Royal Family Order of Negeri Sembilan - DKNS

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 ...

(DKNS, August 1996)

Foreign Honours

* : **

1st Class of the Star of Mahaputera (''Bintang Mahaputera Adipurna'') (16 March 1970) *

Imperial State of Iran Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism. Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to: Places United States * Imperial, California * Imperial, Missouri * Imperial, Nebraska * Imperial, Pennsylvania * Imperial, T ...

: **