Born as Tengku Maliha, she is the third children of seven siblings to Tengku Sri Jaya Diraja Tengku Ariff bin Tengku Long Abdul Rahman and Cik Puan Rokiah binti Sulaiman. She was a member of Kelantanese Royal Family with Sultan Yahya Petra as her grand uncle. She obtained her early education at St. Mary Primary School, Kuala Lumpur and then at Assunta Satu Primary School before she went to Assunta Secondary School, Petaling Jaya. At that time, her father was a pilot in KLM which is a flag carrier airline company of the Netherlands. In 1960, she with her family returned to Kota Bharu, Kelantan after her father served as the aide-de-camp to Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim, the then Sultan of Kelantan. After returned to Kota Bharu, she continued her study at Raja Perempuan Zainab Secondary School and she was very active in her school sport activities especially in hockey. She also took part in school debate club and once presenting her school in a state's English debate competition.
Interest
Sultanah Maliha appointed as royal patron of English Literacy and Computer Programme managed by State Government Education Department and National University of Malaysia. She also a cat lover and very passionate in cooking especially Malaysian East Coastcuisines.
Maliha is made the Sultanah of Kedah after her husband proclaimed as the new Sultan of Kedah following the death of her brother-in-law, Sultan Abdul Halim in September 2017. Her official proclamation as Sultanah held on 30 April 2018 with full of royal ceremony at Anak Bukit Palace, Alor Setar.The ceremony was attended by members of Kedah Royal Family, Kedahan statesmen, the then Chief Minister of Kedah and wife, some members of Kedah State Executive Council with their spouses. The ceremony began at 11 morning upon the arrival of Sultan Sallehuddin accompanied by Sultanah Maliha to the throne hall. After the arrival, the sultanah proclamation letter read by the Chief Minister of Kedah, Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah in front of the Sultan following by Sultanah Maliha stood and kissed her husband's hand as symbol of the junjung duli ceremony. Then, the ceremony continued by 21 shots of canon accompanied by royal nobat. The ceremony end with the Sultan and Sultanah along with royal family members left the throne hall. Like many spouses of heads of state, as the Sultanah of Kedah, she has no stipulated role or duties in the Kedah State Constitution. However, she accompanies the Sultan of kedah to official functions and state visits, as well as hosting visiting heads of state and their spouses. For example, she accompanied her husband to the Installation of the 16th Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Ceremony at the National Palace on 24 January 2019.
Titles and Styles
13 April 1949 – 28 November 1981: Her Highness Tengku Maliha binti Tengku Ariff
28 November 1981 – 1996: Her Highness Tengku Maliha binti Tengku Ariff, Toh Puan Laksamana of Kedah
1996 – 15 December 2016: Her Highness Tengku Maliha binti Tengku Ariff, Tunku Puan Temenggong of Kedah
15 December 2016 – 12 September 2017: Her Royal Highness Tengku Maliha binti Tengku Ariff, Crown Princess of Kedah
12 September 2017 – present: Her Royal Highness Sultanah Maliha binti Tengku Ariff, Sultanah of Kedah
