KEDAH PROCLAIMS 20TH RAJA MUDA
Eldest son of state ruler a law graduate with vast experience in legal practice
TUNKU Laksamana Kedah Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah Sultan Sallehuddin was proclaimed the 20th Raja Muda of Kedah in a ceremony steeped in royal tradition at Istana Anak Bukit here.
The eldest son of Sultan of Kedah Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah and Sultanah Kedah Sultanah Maliha Tengku Ariff is a law graduate with vast experience in legal practice.
Tengku Sarafudin, 50, has held several posts in the government and private sectors, including as Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission legal director in 1999 and as Asiamet (M) Sdn Bhd director.
The proclamation was read out by State Secretary Datuk Bakar Din before Tengku Sarafudin took his oath and signed the document as the new Raja Muda.
Sultan Sallehuddin and Sultanah Maliha witnessed the ceremony.
Present were Kedah royalty, including Tunku Bendahara Kedah Tan Sri Tunku Abdul Hamid Thani Sultan Badlishah and Tunku Temenggong Kedah Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Sultan Abdul Halim.
Tengku Sarafudin was born here on March 2, 1967.
He received his early education at the Royal Military College in Sungai Besi, Selangor, before furthering his studies in the United Kingdom at Brunel University, Uxbridge, in Middlesex and Holborn College in London.
He married Che Puan Muda Zaheeda Mohamad Ariff in 2003. The royal couple is blessed with two children — Tunku Zara Bahiyah Tengku Sarafudin and Tunku Sulaiman Badlishah Tengku Sarafudin.
In his speech, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said the proclamation was in line with Article 28 of the Kedah constitution.
“The state believes the vast experience that Tengku Sarafudin has can contribute to Kedah’s development,” he said.
During the ceremony, Tengku Sarafudin’s younger brother, Datuk Tunku Shazuddin Ariff Sultan Sallehuddin, was proclaimed the new Tunku Laksamana of Kedah.
On Sept 12, Sultan Sallehuddin was proclaimed the 29th sultan of Kedah following the death of his elder brother, Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.