Sharifah Rodziah Syed Alwi Barakbah
| Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Sharifah Rodziah Syed Alwi Barakbah | |
|---|---|
| Spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia | |
|
In office 31 August 1957 – 22 September 1970 | |
| Monarch |
Abdul Rahman Hisamuddin Putra Ismail Nasiruddin Abdul Halim |
| Prime Minister | Tunku Abdul Rahman |
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Toh Puan Rahah Tan Sri Mohammad Noah |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1920 |
| Died |
12 March 2000 (aged 80) Penang, Malaysia |
| Resting place | Kedah Royal Mausoleum |
| Spouse(s) | Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj |
| Children |
Sulaiman Mariam Sharifah Hanizah Faridah |
| Religion | Islam |
Tun Sharifah Rodziah binti Syed Alwi Barakbah (1920 – 12 March 2000) was the third wife of Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the founding father and first Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Early life
Born in 1920, Sharifah Rodziah is of Hadhrami-Malay descent; her Arab ancestors had migrated from Hadhramaut and settled in Kedah for several generations.[1] Being of the Barakbah clan, she is related to Syed Sheh Hassan Barakbah, the former Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang.
Marriage
Sharifah Rodziah was actually the younger sister of Tunku's university mate in England, Syed Omar Barakbah. Tunku and Sharifah Rodziah married in 1939 when he returned to Kedah from England upon hearing news that World War II was about to erupt in Europe.
She became Tunku's third wife after the death of Meriam Chong and his divorce from Violet Coulson. However, the marriage did not result in any offspring. Sharifah Rodziah became a loving stepmother to Tunku's children from his first marriage to Meriam Chong. They later adopted three children, Sulaiman, Mariam and Faridah.
Tunku Abdul Rahman's eldest daughter, Tunku Khadijah said in an interview to The Star that Sharifah Rodziah “loved my father dearly to a fault. She did not want to share him with anyone else".[2]
Influence
Sharifah Rodziah played an important role in rallying political support for her husband during Malaysia's tumultuous formative years.
Death
She died due to pneumonia, in Penang, on 12 March 2000 at the age of 80 and was buried next to her husband grave, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj at Kedah Royal Mausoleum in Langgar, Kedah.
Legacy
- SMK Tun Sharifah Rodziah at Alor Setar, Kedah and SMK(A) Sharifah Rodziah at Teluk Mas, Melaka were named after her.
- Tun Sharifah Rodziah Sea Base, located at Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE),in Sabah also named after her.
See also
References
- ↑ Macam-macam Ada: Memo untuk Pak Lah (Bahagian Satu), by Hussien Alattas, published by JB News Media Network, 2006, ISBN 983-40962-8-3, pg 254
- ↑ The nation came first for Tunku, The Star, 26 August 2007
Sources
- Asiaweek.com, 24 March 2000.
- Putera Negara; 1987, Firma Publishing, Aziz Zarina Ahmad.