Daulat Tuanku
Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah celebrates his 76th birthday today.
HIS Royal Highness Sultan Sallehuddin ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah is celebrating his 76th birthday today, and the whole Kedah state will celebrate together with their beloved ruler.
Sultan Sallehuddin ascended to the throne on Sept 12, 2017 as the 29th Sultan of Kedah, succeeding his brother, the late Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah.
Born on April 30, 1942, in Alor Setar, the monarch is the ninth of 14 siblings born to the late Sultan Badlishah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, the 27th Sultan of Kedah, and the late Sultanah Asma Almarhum Sultan Sulaiman, the daughter of Almarhum Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah of Terengganu.
Sultan Sallehuddin had his early education at Sekolah Melayu Alor Merah and his secondary education at 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.
Upon completing his Senior Cambridge, the charismatic Ruler worked as a temporary teacher at Sekolah Kebangsaan Iskandar, Alor Setar, in 1962.
Acting on the advice of his brother, the late Sultan Tuanku 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 until June 30, 1963.
Upon his return to his homeland, Sultan Sallehuddin was commissioned as a Lieutenant on Feb 12, 1964 and stationed with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD) 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 during 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, Sultan Sallehuddin was stationed at Kem Tok Jalai in Kedah. During the May 1969 incident, he was on duty 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) and the Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM).
In addition, he also attended management courses in the United States. He has vast experience in administration and business and
had served with numerous property development, timber and construction companies.
Highly respected and revered by his subjects, Sultan Sallehuddin has a friendly but firm character when it comes to decision-making, and is meticulous about his appearance.
His military background had shaped his persona into someone who is strict and precise. Based on these traits, he was made an Honorary Colonel of the Askar Wataniah Kedah (JAKPAW).
In 2007, he was promoted to the post of Brigadier-General and subsequently became adviser to the Royal Malay Regiment.
His Royal Highness is active in sports and is an avid golfer. He also loves animals just like his late father. He has cats of various breeds as pets.
During his leisure, he enjoys sightseeing and travelling with his children and grandchildren.
Sultan Sallehuddin met his consort Sultanah Maliha Tengku Ariff, who is from the royal family of Kelantan, when he was posted there with the Royal Malay Regiment.
The royal 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 YTM Tunku Sahzuddin Ariff (who is the current Tunku Laksamana Kedah) on April 27, 1970.
Tengku Sarafudin is married to DYTM Che Puan Muda Zaheeda Mohamad Ariff. They have two children, a prince and a princess.
Sultan Sallehuddin was proclaimed as YTM Tunku Temenggong of Kedah on Nov 28, 1981. He was also appointed as a member of the Council of Regency when his eldest brother, Almarhum Sultan Tuanku 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 Dato’ 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.
Sultan Sallehuddin also holds several key positions, among them as president of the Kedah Islamic Religious Council and Chancellor of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).