Che Puan Besar Haminah

Raja Permaisuri Agong from 2011 to 2016

Che Puan Besar Hajah Haminah binti Haji Hamidun (Jawi: چئ ڤوان بسر حاجة همينة بنت حميدون‎), formerly known as Sultanah Haminah (born Haminah binti Hamidun; 15 July 1953) is the former Sultanah of Kedah and the widow of Sultan Abdul Halim Mua'dzam Shah. Born as a commoner, she married Sultan Abdul Halim on 21 November 2003 after death of his first wife. She served as the 14th Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen consort) of Malaysia from 2011 to 2016, during her husband's second term as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Malaysian federal head of state. After her husband's death in September 2017, his successor and her brother-in-law Sultan Sallehuddin, bestowed upon her the title Che Puan Besar of Kedah, roughly equivalent to the queen dowager.

Early life

Born on 15 July 1953 in Kampung Matang Jelutong, Bagan Serai, Perak. She is the fourth of seven siblings born to father Haji Hamidun bin Taib and mother Hajah Isma binti Mohamad. Tuanku Hajah Haminah was educated at Sekolah Kebangsaan Matang Jelutong and later Sekolah Menengah Inggeris Bagan Serai.^[1]

Interests

Tuanku Hajah Haminah is known to enjoy golf, tennis, badminton, lawn bowling and music.^[2] She has participated in various golf tournaments in Kedah and initiated amateur women's golf tournaments such as the Kedah International Red Tee Invitational, as well as being invited as the royal guest for the International Lawn Bowls Mahsuri Cup in Langkawi.^[3] She also served as the first Chancellor of Management and Science University from 2004 until 2019.

Orders and recognitions

She has been awarded the following honours:

Honours of Kedah

• Member of the Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK) (9 January 2004).
• Member of the Halimi Family Order of Kedah (DKH) (15 July 2008).^[4]
• Member of the Supreme Order of Sri Mahawangsa (DMK) – Dato' Seri Utama (20 January 2017)^[5]

Honours of Malaysia

•  Malaysia :
  • Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN) (26 January 2012)^[6][7]

Foreign honours

•  Japan:
  • Grand Cordon (Paulownia) of the Order of the Precious Crown (3 October 2012)
•  Thailand:
  • Dame Grand Cross (First Class) of the Order of Chula Chom Klao (2 September 2013)

Places named after her

Several places were named after her, including:

• Sultanah Haminah Mosque in Pendang, Kedah
• Taman Tuanku Haminah, a residential area in Sungai Petani, Kedah
• Pusat Perdagangan Tuanku Haminah, a trade centre in Alor Setar, Kedah
• Dewan Tuanku Permaisuri Hajah Haminah, a ceremony hall at the Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah in Kuala Ketil, Kedah
• Yayasan Anak-anak Yatim Sultanah Haminah, an orphanage foundation in Kedah

References

1. Alina Simon (10 January 2004). "New Sultanah of Kedah crowned". New Straits Times. p. 4.
2. "Che' Puan Haminah dimasyhur Sultanah Kedah". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). 10 January 2004. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012.
3. Embun Majid (2011-12-13). "Queen of the rakyat's heart". The Star. Daulat Tuanku, p. 4.
4. Photo of Sultan Abdul Halim and Sultanah Haminah
5. with title:Dato' Seri Utama Thestar
6. Photo Archived 2013-04-02 at the Wayback Machine of Abdul Halim and Haminah, King and Queen of Malaysia (2011-)
7. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang, dan Pingat Persekutuan". Archived from the original on 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2016-06-15.