"Alor Setar - The Capital of Kedah" a Alor Setar Travel Page by chiabh

The state of Kedah is ruled by Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah... July 15th, 2008 makes the 50th year of rule by the Sultan... Kedahans celebrated the Sultan's 50th anniversary as the state’s Ruler amidst much pomp and ceremonial splendour with a three-hour 3.2km ceremonial procession along Lebuhraya Darulaman, from Wisma Darulaman to the Audience Hall at Medan Bandar on a royal barge Bahtera Emas Lapis Suasa...

The procession was led by about 60 students from SMK Sultanah Asma, SMK Keat Hwa and Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid marching bands and 50 school children who celebrated their birthdays on that day... The group was followed by three elephants representing the Malay sultanate armour... Red robes were draped over the elephants – a male named Deli and two female named Mariam and Ita – to symbolise the state’s flag with the Golden Jubilee Celebration emblem... Nine policemen on horses preceded the royal barge and following close behind were 100 civil servants and 50 village chiefs representing the state administration...

Fifty shots of the cannon were fired upon the arrival of the royal couple at Medan Bandar. The Sultan then inspected the guard of honour... The ceremony continued at the Audience Hall where Kedah Mentri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak proclaimed the start of the Golden Jubilee Celebration...

The Sultan of Kedah, who was born on Nov 18, 1927 ascended the throne on July 15, 1958 following the demise of his father Almarhum Sultan Badlishah... He was officially installed as the 27th Sultan of Kedah on Feb 20 1959...