ALOR SETAR: Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah Ibni Sultan Sallehuddin (pic) was proclaimed the 20th Raja Muda of Kedah at the Istana Anak Bukit on Sunday.

The 50-year-old Tengku Sarafudin succeeded his father Sultan Sallehuddin Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, who became the Sultan of Kedah after the death of his brother Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah.

The installation ceremony began with Kedah State Secretary Datuk Bakar Din reading out the proclamation, and this was followed with the swearing in ceremony and the signing in of the Watikah by Tengku Sarafudin.

The ceremony was held at the Istana Anak Bukit's Balai Penghadapan on Sunday (Nov 26) and was witnessed by His Royal Highness Sultan Sallehuddin and Sultanah Maliha Tengku Ariff, followed by three cheers of "Daulat Tuanku" and the playing of music by the royal court's music ensemble.

The Keris Kebesaran Kedah was also presented to Tengku Sarafudin by Sultan Sallehuddin and nine cannon shots were fired.

Tengku Sarafudin also conferred the Darjah Utama Seri Mahawangsa which carries the title Datuk Seri Utama.

Among those who attended the ceremony are Tunku Bendahara Kedah Tan Sri Tunku Abdul Hamid Thani Sultan Badlishah and Tunku Temenggong Kedah Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Sultan Abdul Halim.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon also attended the ceremony.