KEDAHANS are bursting with pride and joy in celebration of His Royal Highness Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah’s 81st birthday today.
The people have come together to offer their wishes and heartfelt gratitude to their beloved Sultan and pray for the Ruler’s continued good health and happiness.
They are rejoicing for all the peace, prosperity and abundance of blessings that their revered monarch had brought about for the state throughout his reign.
Gazetted as a public holiday, today marked 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 of awards, medals and honours at Istana Anak Bukit.
Lined up are also a yasin reading and thanksgiving ceremony, guard of honour parade at Dataran Bandar Alor Setar and a state banquet to be attended by state leaders and dignitaries.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin was born on April 30, 1942 in Alor Setar and is the ninth of 14 siblings of the late Sultan Badlishah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, the 27th Sultan of Kedah.
His Majesty’s mother, Almarhumah Sultanah Asma Almarhum Sultan Sulaiman was the daughter of the Sultan of Terengganu, Almarhum Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah.
Sultan Sallehuddin taking a group photo with Kedah district officers after a credential ceremony at Istana Anak Bukit.
The Ruler began his early education at Sekolah Melayu Alor Merah before continuing his studies at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College, where he had the opportunity to interact with students from different races and status.
He was actively involved in various activities including rugby, football and the debate team. His most unforgettable experience was his participation in the four-day bamboo rafting expedition from Sungai Sik to Sungai Kuala Muda in 1958.
Following his 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 elder brother, the late Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, and his deep interest in the military, he chose to undergo cadet training and was sent to the India Military Academy in Dehra Dun, India, from July 23, 1962 to June 30, 1963.
Upon his return to his homeland, the monarch was commissioned as a Lieutenant on Feb 12, 1964 and subsequently posted to the 2nd Battalion Royal Malay Regiment (RMR) in Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Baru in Kelantan.
During his time in the service, he 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 his 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 battalion was involved in an operation in Penang.
His Royal Highness retired from the Armed Forces on Feb 14, 1974. During his retirement break, he underwent training at the National Productivity Council (NPC), Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM) as well as management courses in the United States.
He has wide experiences in the corporate world especially in property development, logging and construction.
His involvement in the various fields has certainly made His Majesty more sensitive and 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 wakaf.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin is also concerned and cares deeply about history, especially the history of Kedah. He believes that historical literacy will develop the people’s mind and love for the state and country.
His concern and love for the well-being of the people and environment sustainability have constantly been reminded in his speeches, especially at the policy- making stage, such as during the opening of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
This love and concern have also led to His Excellency constantly visiting, reminding and being briefed on the impact of development in the state. His views on the needs and aspirations of the people have made it possible for him to articulate the various aspects of social and physical development.
His speeches always emphasise the importance of scholarship which is based on theology, humanity, organised society and sustainable environment.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin has a friendly but firm character when it comes to decision making, and is very meticulous about his appearance.
His military training had instilled the values of discipline, loyalty, hard work and respect and shaped his persona into someone who is strict and precise. These qualities greatly influenced his outlook towards life outside the palace.
The Ruler was conferred the rank of Brigadier General in 2007 and served as advisor to the territorial army when he was the Tunku Temenggong Kedah, and later the Crown Prince.
Now a Sultan, he is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Malay Regiment and also the Royal Ordinance Corps.
He was conferred the Pahlawan Angkatan Tentera (PAT) or The Most Gallant Order of Military Service by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2012 for his exceptional service in the Malaysian Armed Forces.
His Excellency is very active in sports, is an avid golfer, and loves animals just like his late father. He keeps cats of various breeds as pets. During his leisure time, he likes to go sightseeing and travelling with his children and grandchildren.
The monarch met his consort Her Royal Highness Sultanah Maliha Almarhum Tengku Ariff, who is from the royal family of Kelantan, when he was posted there with the Royal Malay Regiment.
The happy couple was married on Nov 26, 1965 and blessed with two sons — DYTM Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah (who is the current Tuanku Raja Muda Kedah) on March 2, 1967 and DYAM Datuk Tunku Shazuddin Ariff (who is the current Tunku Mahkota Kedah) on April 27, 1970.
Tengku Sarafudin is married to DYTM Che Puan Muda Zaheeda and has two children, a prince and a princess, while Tunku Shazuddin is married to DYAM Che Puan Nur Julie Ariff.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin was proclaimed as YTM Tunku Temenggong Kedah on Nov 28, 1981. He was also appointed as a member of the Kedah Council of Regency when his eldest brother, Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, served as the King from 2011 to 2016.
He 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.
His Royal Highness was proclaimed as 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, among them are chancellor of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) and Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah (UniSHAMS).
His Royal Highness was conferred the title of Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Kelantan Yang Amat Mulia (SPMK) on Nov 28, 2016 and Darjah Kerabat Yang Amat Di-Hormati (Al-Yunus), D.K (Kelantan) on Sept 30, 2017.
He was bestowed with the Darjah Kerabat Kedah on Jan 15, 2017, Darjah Kerabat Johor Yang Amat Di-Hormati Pangkat Pertama D.K 1 on Oct 30, 2017, and Darjah Kerabat DiRaja Yang Amat Di-Hormati Perak on Dec 4, 2017.
Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin also received the Darjah Kerabat Yang Amat Di-Hormati Selangor on Jan 25, 2018, Darjah Kerabat Negeri Sembilan on Aug 21, 2018, Darjah Kerabat Baginda Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail (Perlis) on Sept 13, 2018, Darjah Mahkota Negara (DMN) from the Prime Minister on Oct 15, 2018, and Darjah Kerabat Sri Indera Mahkota Pahang on Sept 5, 2019.
