Sultanah Haminah Hamidun

Che Puan Besar Hajah Haminah binti Haji Hamidun (Jawi: ), 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

Honours of Malaysia

Foreign honours

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