KEDAH's Royal Jubilee! SULTANAH MALIHA Turns 70!!

Today (Saturday 13 April 2019) is the 70th Birthday of the Roal Consort of Kedah. HRH Sultanah Maliha binti Almarhum Tengku Ariff is the wife of 76-year-old Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, the constituent monarch of this Malaysian state since 2017. While the Sultanah comes from a royal family, there are no official celebrations planned, such as only the Ruler's birthday is considered a state affair. Family celebrations may take place in private.

Tengku Maliha was born on April 13, 1949, in the capital of Kelantan Sultanate, Kota Bahru - a member of its extended royalty.

The third of seven children of Tengku Sri Jaya Diraja Tengku Ariff bin Tengku Long Abdul Rahman and Cik Puan Rokiah binti Sulaiman, she was a grand-niece of the late Sultan Yahya Petra, 6th King (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) & grandfather of the recently abdicated 15th King of Malaysia, Sultan Muhammad V.

She received her primary education at two schools close to the capital Kuala Lumpur (Petaling Jaya), while her father was serving there with the Dutch Airline (KLM). In 1960 the family returned to Kelantan, where Maliha studied at a secondary school in (state's capital) Kota Bahru. Then she became invovled in various activities, such as hockey sports. With her good knowledge of English she represented her school in debate-alike conversations.

Kedah's Sultan Salehuddin Sultan Badlishah

At the tender age of 16 Tengku Maliha was given to marriage with Tunku Salehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, a Prince from fellow Kedah state, & half-brother to its (then) Sultan Abdul Halim.

They were married on 26 November 1965; Salehuddin was then serving as an Army officer (at the second Battalion Malay regiment camp, based in Kelantan). Maliha gave birth to their two sons, Tengku Sarafuddin Badlishah (b. 1967; currently the Raja Muda/Crown Prince of Kedah) & Tunku Shazuddin Ariff (b. 1970).
Through Sarafuddin's marriage they also have two grandchildren.

Between 1967 & 1975, Tunku Salehuddin's army battalion base was transfered to other Malay states, and the same time he pursued further studies at universities in Malaysia (Institute of Management) & abroad (eg USA). Maliha, apart from being a housewife, comitted herself to the welfare body of Armed Forces' wives, playing a leading role.
In 1973 she began working in a shiping company, and from 1975 to 1994 served at the Malaysian airlines (MAS). The Princess had also served as an advisor & consultant in some private companies.

In 1981 Salehuddin was appointed Tunku Temenggong of Kedah, which placed him among the first pretenders to succeed his "son-less" brother. Maliha subsequently became Puan Temenggong. Gradually they outlived his older brothers, with Salehuddin being made Raja Muda in 2016 (& Maliha named Raja Puan Muda).

Sultan Abdul Halim appoints Salehuddin as Raja Muda

In September 2017, Salehuddin succeeded the 89-year-old Abdul Halim on the latter's death. Maliha was proclaimed Sultanah by her husband on 30 April 2018, in a royal ceremony steeped in tradition. She had previously received state's honours on the Sultan's official birthday (January). Later that year, her husband was Installed (customary enthroned) in a religious & traditional ceremony (see the relative publication - https://royaleventsintheword.blogspot.com/2018/10/malay-royal-history-is-repeated.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR3RfwEyGUdNsKeco87u6LZ6jUckLuHkkpFRfAPYaXf5Xe9MGtg27N-q8m0).

Maliha appointed Sultanah-consort of Kedah (30/04/2018)

The Sultan's official birthday (2018) - his actual is on April 30!

Sultanah Maliha is reported to be a caring family figure, who both persisted for her children's higher education, and 'supervised' for the educational development in Kedah. Her keen interest is the development in english language. Thus she is a patron of English literacy & Computer Programme (COMEL), an online-learning program for primary students, jointly organised by two universities.

Photo from the Sultan's Installation (October 22, 2018)

The Sultanah is also a lover of cats (of all kinds), an interest she shares with her husband, and additionally likes to cook (especially menus of East Coast' delicacy). Finally, she enjoys travels abroad.
Though in a new role & decade, she is a very respected matriarch!