Sultan of Kedah’s Birthday in Malaysia Date in the current year: June 16, 2024

Ancient Kedah was a Hindu kingdom, but in 1136 (or, according to some sources, in 1474) its king converted to Islam and founded the Kedah Sultanate. Originally an independent state, it became a British protectorate in 1909. After World War II, Kedah joined the Malay Union. Its monarchy was briefly abolished, but when the Union was reorganized as the Federation of Malaya in 1948, Kedah was reinstated as a sultanate.

The incumbent Sultan of Kedah is Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah. He was born as Tuanku Mahmud Sallehuddin on April 30, 1942, the ninth of Suldan Badishah’s 14 children. At the age of 20, the future sultan embarked on a military career and started his cadet training at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.

Tuanku Sallehuddin graduated from the academy in 1963 with the rank of junior lieutenant. Several months later, he was promoted to lieutenant and stationed with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment. During his military career, he participated in several security operations at the Malaysia-Thailand border and rose to the rank of colonel.

In 1981, Tuanku Sallehuddin was appointed as Tunku Temenggong of Kedah and began to take a more active part in the state affairs. When his eldest brother, Sultan Abdul Halim, was elected as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) for the second time in 2011, Tuanku Sallehuddin became a member of the Council of Regency. In 2014, he was promoted to the chairman of the Council.

In December 2016, Tuanku Sallehuddin was officially proclaimed the heir apparent (Raja Muda) of Kedah. On September 11, 2017, Sultan Abdul Halim passed away, and the 75-year-old Sallehuddin succeeded him as the Sultan of Kedah, becoming the world’s oldest monarch by the age of accession. The official enthronement ceremony took place on October 22, 2018.

While most Malay states celebrate the actual birthday of the monarch or governor, Kedah is an exception. Although the incumbent sultan was born in April, his official birthday is celebrated on the third Sunday of June.