Tunku Sallehuddin ascends the throne as the 29th Sultan of Kedah.
Sultan Abdul Halim passed away at 2.30pm yesterday at Istana Anak Bukit after a reign of 59 years. He was 89.
The proclamation of the new sultan was read out by Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah at Istana Anak Bukit in keeping with a decision of the Royal Council of Ascension.
Article Nine of the Kedah state constitution provides for the Royal Council of Ascension to determine the successor of the Kedah throne upon the death of the reigning sultan. The menteri besar is the president of the council.
Following the proclamation, the comptroller of the royal household/principal private secretary of the Sultan of Kedah, Syed Unan Mashri Syed Abdullah, invited Tunku Sallehuddin to take his seat on the throne placed at Dewan Penghadapan.
Syed Unan then hailed “Daulat Tuanku” thrice, with the audience emulating him, which was followed by the strains of the “nobat” royal orchestra.
The “doa” (prayer) was recited by the Mufti of Kedah, Syeikh Fadil Awang.
Tunku Sallehuddin then touched the dais where the casket bearing the remains of Sultan Abdul Halim had been placed, signalling the start of the funeral ceremony.
Present at Dewan Penghadapan were the Raja Puan Muda of Kedah, Tengku Maliha Tengku Ariff; the Tunku Bendahara of Kedah, Tunku Abdul Hamid Thani Sultan Badlishah; the Tunku Temenggong of Kedah, Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz; and the Tunku Laksamana of Kedah, Tengku Sarafuddin Badlishah Tunku Salehuddin Sultan Badlishah.
Tunku Sallehuddin had been appointed the chairman of the Kedah Council of Regency to succeed Tunku Annuar Sultan Badlishah who passed away on May 21, 2014. He held the position up to Dec 12 last year.
On Dec 15 last year, Tunku Sallehuddin was proclaimed as the Raja Muda of Kedah after Sultan Abdul Halim returned to Kedah following his reign as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Earlier, people from all walks of life thronged Istana Anak Bukit today to pay their last respects to the late sultan at Dewan Penghadapan.
The paying of last respects by members of the public was held from 11am to 12.30pm. Dignitaries paid their last respects from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.