In a statement, state secretary Zafir Ibrahim said Tunku Ampuan Najihah’s death comes shortly after her 100th birthday, which fell on Sept 1.

“Her remains will lie in state at Istana Besar Seri Menanti and she will be laid to rest at the Seri Menanti royal mausoleum after the Asar prayers,” he said.

She was married to the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Ja’afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman, giving her the title Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan during his reign in the state from April 1967 to December 2008.

She also served as Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia between 1994 and 1999, when Tuanku Jaafar was the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Born on Sept 1, 1923, in Seri Menanti, Kuala Pilah, Tunku Ampuan Najihah received her early education at the Tengku Mohamad Kuala Pilah school before pursuing tertiary education at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

She and Tuanku Jaafar were married on Aug 8, 1942, and were blessed with three sons and three daughters. Tuanku Jaafar died in 2008 at the age of 86.