Her Highness Dato Seri DiRaja Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz binti Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah

Tunku Temenggong Kedah

Born in 1966 in Alor Star, Kedah to HRH the Sultan and Sultanah of Kedah, Her Highness Princess Tunku Temenggong Kedah Dato’ Seri DiRaja Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz is the youngest of three. After attending primary school in St. Nicholas Convent, Alor Star and secondary education at Tunku Kurshiah College , Seremban, Her Highness continued her secondary education at Cheltenham Ladies College, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. She obtained a degree in Politics from Sussex University in 1987.

After graduating, Her Highness returned to Malaysia and joined the multinational conglomerate Sime Darby Berhad in Kuala Lumpur and was attached to the communications, industrial relations and corporate planning departments. After working in the Sime Darby group for six years, Her Highness left the company to focus her attention on working on community-based initiatives especially in Kedah.

Sultanah Bahiyah Foundation; taking its name after her late mother HRH Tuanku Bahiyah ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the Sultanah of Kedah who provided the ideas and inspired its creation. Her Highness was elected its Chairperson and the foundation’s aims are to provide programmes, services and help to individuals and organizations in need within the state of Kedah.

The foundation has its primary focus on education, where it runs a free weekly tuition programme for 2,500 students in 24 rural areas. It also organizes activities for young people, through sports, education and motivational methods to encourage them to be positive and informed. The foundation also has numerous health related programs such as a mobile health screening bus and two charity dialysis centres. The foundation also provides grants to encourage small businesses run by women. She is very proud to be a pioneer of a programme with the Malaysian AIDS Council and the Kedah Family Planning Association and local stakeholders, to set up Kedah’s first HIV and AIDS related drop-in and outreach centre to conduct health screening, testing and counselling programs in the state of Kedah under Persatuan Cahaya Harapan Negeri Kedah/Perlis.

Her Highness is also a volunteer for the Lembaga Kebajikan Perempuan Islam Malaysia or the Muslim Women’s Action Council, a charitable organization founded by her late grandmother, Her Royal Highness Tunku Puan Besar Kurshiah binti Tunku Besar Burhanuddin, in 1960. She holds the position of National Chairperson and was elected during the Annual General Meeting on the 22nd of June 2019.

Her Highness is also a volunteer for the Lembaga Kebajikan Perempuan Islam Malaysia or the Muslim Women’s Action Council, a charitable organization founded by her late grandmother, Her Royal Highness Tunku Puan Besar Kurshiah binti Tunku Besar Burhanuddin, in 1960. She holds the position of National Chairperson and was elected during the Annual General Meeting on the 22nd of June 2019.

On 10th October 2010, Her Highness was appointed as Pro-Chancellor of National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) by His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong Tuanku Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, then Chancellor of UPNM. Her Highness was also appointed and serves as Pro-Chancellor of National University of Malaysia (UKM) by the Chancellor His Royal Highness Yang DiPertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus

Her Highness was conferred an honorary doctorate in philosophy (Social Work Management) for her outstanding contributions in the fields of social work from Northern University of Malaysia (UUM) on 31st October 2010 by then Chancellor of UUM, His Royal Highness the Sultan of Kedah. Her Highness served as Chancellor of UUM in 1.8.2014 until 15.12.2016. The premier university focuses on the fields of management and finance in Malaysia.

On 5th October 2011, Her Highness was conferred an honorary doctorate in philosophy (Community Development) from INSANIAH University College (KUIN) by the Chancellor, His Royal Highness the Sultan of Kedah. Due to her undivided attention in the field of military, Her Highness was conferred an honorary doctorate in Human Resource Management from National University Defence of Malaysia on 14th of November 2018.

Her Highness also was appointed as Royal Fellow for Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development of National University of Malaysia (UKM) by the Chancellor HRH the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan in 2007. Her Highness is also the Royal Patron for Langkawi Geopark, a UNESCO accreditation which is an initiative for the island of Langkawi. The Geopark status is a collaboration between the State government, the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) and National University of Malaysia (UKM).

Her Highness was commissioned as the Commander of 513 Territorial Army Regiment in Kedah on 1st November 2007 and holds the rank of Brigadier General. She is the first female from the royal house in Malaysia to be elected for the position. On 11th November 2010 Her Highness was awarded ‘Pahlawan Angkatan Tentera’ (P.A.T) medal by His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong Tuanku Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin. Currently Her Highness is the Commander of 509 Territorial Army in Pulau Pinang which took place on the 15th of March 2020

Her Highness was awarded the Honorary Maroon Beret and remains the only female to be thus honoured; by the Royal Malaysia Armed Forces on 31st October 2011 at Markas 10 Briged Para, Kem Terendak Melaka. Due to Her Highness tremendous dedication to the aforementioned field, Her Highness was also awarded ‘Royal Thai Army Honorary Parachutist Badge’ from Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command on 12th January 2012 at Sananarong Camp, Hatyai, Thailand.

As His Royal Highness the Sultan of Kedah was appointed to serve as the King of Malaysia or 'Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong XIV’ in December 2011, Her Highness was appointed to the Kedah Council of Regency to jointly take on the responsibilities of State. She was awarded the ‘Darjah Seri Setia Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Yang Amat DiHormati’ (SHMS) on 12th December 2011 which carries title “Dato’ Seri DiRaja”.

Her Highness was awarded the ‘Darjah Seri Setia DiRaja Kedah’ (S.S.D.K) in 1998 and made a Justice of the Peace (J.P) in 2004 by HRH the Sultan of Kedah Darul Aman. She also awarded the ‘Darjah Kerabat Yam Tuan Raden’ (D.K.Y.R) by HRH the Yang DiPertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan in 2005. During the celebrations for the Golden Jubilee of HRH the Sultan of Kedah, celebrating his 50 Year Reign in July 2008, Her Highness was awarded ‘Darjah Kerabat Halimi’ (DKH). Then on 18th January 2009, Her Highness was bestowed the ‘Orang Besar Empat’ award which carries the title ‘Tunku Panglima Besar’ by HRH the Sultan of Kedah. In January 2017, after His Majesty the Yang DiPertuan Agong returned to Kedah after a 5-year tenure, Her Highness was bestowed the title ‘Tunku Temenggong Kedah’ by the Sultan of Kedah.

On 2th June 2012, Her Highness was awarded the ‘Panglima Setia Mahkota’ (PSM) award which carries the title ‘Tan Sri’ by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong XIV in commemoration of the anniversary celebration of His Majesty’s birthday.

In terms of hobbies and interests, Her Highness is an avid golfer and enjoys the outdoors. She enjoys hiking, cycling and has an interest in sailing. She is the Vice Commodore of the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club on the island of Langkawi, a growing hub for sailing in South East Asia. Her Highness enjoys books, music, and owns a small collection of Malaysian paintings and sculpture. She travels when possible and has a family home in London. Her Highness is a member of The Queen's Club, London and The Arts Club, London