Che Puan Besar Haminah

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 consort) 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 born to father Haji Hamidun bin Taib and mother Hajah Isma binti Mohamad. Tuanku Hajah Haminah was educated at Sekolah Kebangsaan Matang Jelutong and later Sekolah Menengah Inggeris Bagan Serai.

Titles and styles
On 25 December 1975, at age 23, Haminah married HRH The Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdul Halim and became his second wife. She received the title Che Puan (Princess consort) of Kedah. HRH Sultan Abdul Halim's first wife, Sultanah Bahiyah died on 26 August 2003. On 21 November 2003, HH Che Puan Haminah was proclaimed as the Sultanah of Kedah. Her installation took place in the royal town of Anak Bukit on 9 January 2004.

Upon the installation of HRH Sultan Abdul Halim as HM The Yang di-Pertuan Agong XIV on 13 December 2011, HRH Sultanah Hajah Haminah became HM The Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia. HM Tuanku Hajah Haminah then became the fourth commoner who becomes the Raja Permaisuri Agong after Tuanku Bainun of Perak, Tuanku Siti Aishah of Selangor and Tuanku Nur Zahirah of Terengganu.

Following the demise of HRH Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah on 11 September 2017, she has been formally addressed as Sultanah Hajah Haminah, the Sultanah Dowager during a brief period of time.

On 21 January 2018, in conjunction with the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Sallehuddin's 76th birthday, she was conferred the title Her Royal Highness The Che Puan Besar of Kedah. She is now formally addressed as Che Puan Besar Hajah Haminah or simply Tuanku Hajah Haminah.

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

 * MY-KED Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK).svg Member of the Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK, 9 January 2004).
 * MY-KED Halimi Family Order of Kedah (DKH).svg Member of the Halimi Family Order of Kedah (DKH, 15 July 2008).
 * MY-KED Supreme Order of Sri Mahawangsa (DMK).svg Member of the Supreme Order of Sri Mahawangsa (DMK, 20 January 2017) with title Dato' Seri Utama.

Honours of Malaysia

 * 🇲🇾 Malaysia :
 * MY Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara (Crown of the Realm) - DMN.svg Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN, 26 January 2012)

Foreign honours

 * 🇯🇵 Japan:
 * JPN Hokan-sho 1Class BAR.svg Grand Cordon (Paulownia) of the Order of the Precious Crown (3 October 2012)
 * 🇹🇭 Thailand:
 * Order of Chula Chom Klao - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Dame Grand Cross (First Class) of the Order of Chula Chom Klao (2 September 2013)

Places named after her
Several places were 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