Abdul Hamid Halim of Kedah
Sultan of Kedah
Born on: June 4, 1864Died on: May 13, 1943
Aged: 78 years 343 days (947 months)
Birth Sign: Gemini
Abdul Hamid Halim Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram Shah (Jawi: ڤدوك سري سلطان سر عبد الحميد حليم شاه ابن المرحوم سلطان أحمد تاج الدين مكرم شاه; 4 June 1864 – 13 May 1943) or Chao Phraya Ritthisongkhram Ramphakdi Si Sunlatan (Hamid) (Thai: เจ้าพระยาฤทธิสงครามรามภักดีศรีสุลต่าน (ฮามิด)) was the 26th sultan of Kedah and reigned from 1881 to 1943.
He incorporated many Western elements into government, telegraph systems, land administration, a modern treasury and also a major canal, impressing many Western observers including Swettenham who called his kingdom 'exceptionally well-governed'.
However, it was also during his reign that five extravagant weddings in 1904 caused state bankruptcy, debt quadrupled their revenues, and a large foreign loan was required to finance the debt.