PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Kedah Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah has died at the age of 89.

He died at 2.30pm on Monday (Sept 11).

The Kedah ruler made history when he became Agong for the second time in 2012 after being installed for the first time in 1970.

Tuanku Abdul Halim ended his term as the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong last December and was replaced by Kelantan ruler Sultan Muhammad V.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has expressed grief and sadness at the Sultan's passing.

In a statement on his official Facebook page, the Prime Minister said he and the Sultan had shared a close relationship, both on an official and personal basis.

"Almarhum Tuanku was also friendly, warm, courteous and beloved by the rakyat," the statement continued.

Najib also expressed his deepest condolences to the Kedah royal family on a personal level and on behalf of the Federal Government.

"May Almarhum's soul be blessed by Allah SWT and placed among the faithful. Al-Fatihah," he said.

Tuanku Abdul Halim was born on Nov 28, 1927. On July 14, 1958, he ascended the throne of Kedah after the demise of his father, Sultan Badlishah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah. He was installed as the Sultan of Kedah on Feb 20, 1959.

He received his early education at Sekolah Melayu Titi Gajah and then went to the Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Alor Setar.

In 1952, when he was the Raja Muda of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim attended Wadham College, Oxford, in London, graduating in social science and public administration.

Tuanku Abdul Halim married Tuanku Hajah Bahiyah Tuanku Abdul Rahman on March 10, 1956, and they were blessed with three princesses, Tunku Soraya, Tunku Salina and Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz. Tunku Salina has since died.

Sultanah Bahiyah died in 2003. Tuanku Abdul Halim married Che Puan Hajah Haminah Hamidun on Dec 25, 1975, and Her Majesty was proclaimed the new Sultanah of Kedah on Jan 9, 2004, with the title of Tuanku Sultanah Hajah Haminah.