Che Puan Besar Haminah

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 25 December 1975 as his second wife. She served as the 14th Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen 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 to Haji Hamidun bin Taib and Hajah Isma binti Mohamad. Tuanku Hajah Haminah was educated at Matang Jelutong Primary School and later Bagan Serai English Secondary School.

Interests

Tuanku Hajah Haminah is known to enjoy golf, tennis, badminton, lawn bowling and music. 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. 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)
• Member of the Supreme Order of Sri Mahawangsa (DMK) – Dato' Seri Utama (20 January 2017)

Honours of Malaysia

• Malaysia Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN) (26 January 2012)

Foreign honours

• Japan Grand Cordon (Paulownia) of the Order of the Precious Crown (6 February 2013)
• Thailand Dame Grand Cross (First Class) of the Order of Chula Chom Klao (2 September 2013)

Places named after her

Several places have been 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