Tunku Ampuan Najihah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin (Jawi: ; 1 September 1923 – 8 September 2023) was the Tunku Ampuan (Queen dowager) of Negeri Sembilan from 2008 until her death in 2023. She was formerly the Tunku Ampuan Besar (Queen consort) of Negeri Sembilan from 1967 to 2008. She also served as the 10th Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) between 1994 and 1999.
Tuanku Najihah was married to the former Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Tuanku Jaafar is also the stepson of Tuanku Najihah's sister, Tunku Kurshiah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin, who also served as Tunku Ampuan Besar. Tuanku Najihah succeeded her sister, Tunku Ampuan Durah as Tunku Ampuan Besar in 1967.
Early life Daughter of Tunku Besar Burhanuddin ibni Almarhum Tuanku Antah (sometime Regent of Negeri Sembilan) and born on 1 September 1923, Tuanku Najihah received her formal education at the Tuanku Muhammad School in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan. She graduated from the London School of Oriental Studies. She also attended the special language and training course provided for the wives of diplomats while Tuanku Ja’afar was pursuing a course in diplomatic services in London.
Social contributions Tuanku Najihah was made a committee member of the Associated Country Women of the World. She was the patron of various women's organizations such as the Girl Guides of Negeri Sembilan, the Islamic Women's Welfare Council and the Women's Institute.
She was also the president of the Tuanku Ampuan Badminton Team, the Patron of the Malaysian Women's Hockey Team, Malaysian Women's Football Team, Malaysian Women's Golf Team and the Malaysian Women's Golf Association (MALGA).
She also served as the first Chancellor of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.
Family life The royal couple had three sons and three daughters :
Tunku Tan Sri Naquiah, the Tunku Dara of Negeri Sembilan (born 26 December 1944) Tunku Dato' Seri Utama Naquiyuddin, the Tunku Laksamana of Negeri Sembilan (born 8 March 1947) Tunku Tan Sri Dato' Seri Imran, the Tunku Muda Serting of Negeri Sembilan (born 21 March 1949) Tunku Puan Sri Jawahir, the Tunku Puteri of Negeri Sembilan (born 27 January 1952) Tunku Dato' Seri Irinah, the Tengku Puan Panglima Raja of Selangor (born 23 November 1957) Tunku Dato' Seri Nadzaruddin (born 26 October 1959)
Death Tuanku Najihah died at the Cardiac Vascular Central Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 8 September 2023, one week after celebrating her 100th birthday.Tunku Ampuan Najihah dies Bernama. Retrieved 8 September 2023. Her remains were laid to rest at Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum and buried next to her husband Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar, who died in 2008.Tunku Ampuan Najihah laid to rest at Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum The Star. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
Awards and recognitions
Honours of Negeri Sembilan Member of the Royal Family Order of Negeri Sembilan (DKNS) Knight Grand Commander of the Grand Order of Tuanku Ja'afar (SPTJ) – Dato' Seri
Honours of Malaysia , as Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia (26 April 1994 to 25 April 1999), she was awarded Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN)Photo of Tuanku Najihah wearing DMN decoration
Member of the Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK)
Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Kelantan (DK) Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Kelantan (SPMK) – Dato' (1992)Facebook page for Tuanku Najihah
Foreign honours
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (24 March 1995)Boletín Oficial del Estado
Places named after her Several places were named after her, including: Tuanku Ampuan Najihah Hospital in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan Kompleks Sukan Tunku Najihah, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan SMK Tunku Ampuan Najihah, a secondary school in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan Taman Sinar Harapan Tuanku Ampuan Najihah in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan Taman Tuanku Ampuan Najihah, a residential area in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
See also Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Raja Permaisuri Agong
References
Sources "Syarikat Pesaka Antah Sdn Bhd" Website, presentation of the Board of Directors with photo of Tuanku Najihah