Her Royal Highness Sultanah Maliha binti Almarhum Tengku Ariff, the Sultanah of the State of Kedah Darul Aman, was born on 13 April 1949 in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Her Royal Highness is the third of seven siblings born to His Highness Tengku Sri Jaya DiRaja Tengku Ariff bin Tengku Long Abdul Rahman and Cik Puan Rokiah Sulaiman. Her father was a nephew of the late Sultan Yahya Petra, the 27th Sultan of Kelantan. During her childhood, Her Royal Highness was raised within the royal household, surrounded by affection and the traditions of the royal institution.

Her Royal Highness received her early education at St Mary's School, Sentul, before continuing her studies at Assunta Primary and Secondary School in Petaling Jaya. In 1960, her family relocated to Kota Bharu, Kelantan, following her father's appointment as Aide-de-Camp to the late Sultan Yahya Petra. Upon returning to Kota Bharu, Her Royal Highness continued her education at Sultanah Zainab Secondary School. She was actively involved in school activities, including hockey and debating, and served as both Class Monitor and School Prefect. At the age of 17, Her Royal Highness married Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah on 26 November 1965.

Following her marriage, Her Royal Highness accompanied her husband to his various military postings, including Kem Sungai Besi in Kuala Lumpur, Kem Tambun in Ipoh, and Kem Kepala Batas in Alor Setar. During this period, she was actively involved with the Armed Forces Wives Welfare Association. The royal couple are blessed with two sons: His Royal Highness Tengku Sarafuddin Badlishah, the Raja Muda of Kedah Darul Aman, and His Highness Tunku Shazuddin Ariff, the Tunku Laksamana of Kedah. Her Royal Highness also provided unwavering support for her children's education, both of whom have achieved distinction in the fields of law and the arts.

Her Royal Highness began her career with a shipping company in 1973 before serving with Malaysia Airlines (MAS) until 1994. She currently serves as an adviser to Inbaz and Seri Libana. In addition to her professional commitments, Her Royal Highness is actively involved in education and environmental conservation initiatives. She is the Patron of the Computer And English Literacy (COMEL) programme, which aims to improve English language proficiency among primary school pupils. In recognition of her contributions, Her Royal Highness has been conferred numerous state honours, including the Darjah Dato’ Seri DiRaja Kedah (D.S.D.K.), Darjah Seri Setia DiRaja Kedah (S.S.D.K.), Darjah Seri Setia Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah (S.H.M.S.), and the Darjah Kerabat Kedah (D.K.).

Her Royal Highness is also an avid cat lover, enjoys cooking, and has a deep appreciation for nature and international travel. She remains deeply committed to advancing education for the people of Kedah and continues to champion a wide range of charitable and community welfare initiatives.

Source: Office of His Royal Highness the Sultan of Kedah