PUTERI ZALEHA [KEDAH]
Puteri Zaleha’s tragic story is popular amongst the people of Kedah. Daughter of Sultan Sulaiman Shah from the 16th century, the princess was so beautiful and pure, the blood she drew was white. She also has a sister, Puteri Mariam, who was just as beautiful but had red blood.
Her distinctive beauty caught the eye of the Prince of Acheh, who was so obsessed by her exoticism, he threatened to attack Kedah unless he could marry Puteri Zaleha. Since he did not know what the princess looked like, Puteri Mariam was sent in her place instead, only to be exposed when she accidentally cut her hand while preparing betel. The Prince waged war on the state and sent his warriors to bring the princess to him.
Knowing that the small kingdom was no match for Acheh, Sultan Sulaiman hid Zaleha in an underground bunker, so dark and impenetrable that no soldier – not even the moonlight – can find her. Unfortunately, since the Sultan perished in the war, the princess was never found and starved to death in the pitch black bunker. She is also known as Puteri Lindungan Bulan (Princess Protected by Moonlight), because of the dark hiding place that took her life.