Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia
يڠ د ڤرتوءن اݢوڠ
Federal

Incumbent
Tuanku Abdul Halim
the Sultan of Kedah
Details
Style His Majesty
First monarch Tuanku Abdul Rahman
of Negeri Sembilan
Formation 31 August 1957
Residence Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur
Website www.parlimen.gov.my/agong
Malaysia
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The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Jawi: يڠ دڤرتوان اݢوڠ) is the head of state (king) of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia) gained independence from the United Kingdom. Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with an elected monarch as head of state. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is one of the few elected monarchs in the world. The consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is called the Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen Lady Consort). The couple are addressed in English as "His Majesty" and "Her Majesty".

In Malaysia's constitutional monarchy, Yang di-Pertuan Agong has extensive powers within the constitution. The constitution specifies that the executive power of the Federal government is vested in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and is exercised by him on the advice of the federal Council of Ministers. The latter is headed by the Prime Minister, appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong from among the elected members of Parliament. Among them, Yang di-Pertuan Agong has discretionary powers to choose who he wants as the Prime Minister and is not bound by the decision of the outgoing PM if no party has won a majority vote (Article 40). It, however, does not afford him the right and authority to dismiss the PM. He also can dismiss or withhold consent to a request for the dissolution of Parliament (Article 40).[1] He may discontinue or dissolve Parliament (Article 55) but he can only dissolve Parliament at the request of the PM (Article 43). He can reject any new laws or amendments to existing laws but if he still withholds permission, it will automatically become law after 30 days from the initial submission to him (Article 66).[2]

The 14th and current Yang di-Pertuan Agong is Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah. His reign began on 13 December 2011 after his election by the Conference of Rulers. He is the first ruler to hold the position twice, having served as the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1970 to 1975, as well as the oldest elected to the office at the age of 83.[3] The installation of the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong was held on 11 April 2012, at the new Istana Negara at Jalan Duta.

Title

The full title in Malay is Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong , which could be translated into English as "His Royal Majesty, He who was made Supreme Lord".

A literal English translation for "Yang di-Pertuan Agong" is "He who was made Supreme Lord". Common English terms used in the media and general public include "King", "High King", "Great King", "Supreme Ruler", "Paramount Ruler", "Supreme Head of State", "Supreme Head of the Federation", and "Supreme Head of State of the Federation".

The Malaysian government officially use the title "The Supreme Head of Malaysia" in the English section of the introductory page in the Malaysian passport, to refer to the head of state of the country.

History

Replica of the King's Tengkolok Diraja (Royal Headress), a part of the Regalia of Malaysia. It is a songket made of black fabric embroidered in gold threads, wrapped in the Dendam Tak Sudah style originating from Negeri Sembilan.

In August 1957, having rejected the suggested title of Yang di-Pertuan Besar in favour of Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Council of Rulers met to elect the first occupant of the throne. By seniority, the 84-year-old major general Sultan Ibrahim, Sultan of Johor since 1895, was first in line, but he declined due to old age. The next in line, Sultan Abu Bakar, Sultan of Pahang since 1932, was rejected five times by his fellow electors, and did not secure the necessary votes. Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan, having been elected to his state throne in 1933, was elected by eight votes to one.

The first Council of Rulers were:

- The Sultan of Pahang

Sultan Abu Bakar Riayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdullah Al-Mutassim Billah Shah


- The Great Lord (Yang di-Pertuan Besar) of Negeri Sembilan

Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad


- The Sultan of Selangor

Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Alauddin Sulaiman Shah


- The Sultan of Kedah

Sultan Badlishah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah


- The Sultan of Kelantan

Sultan Ibrahim Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV;


- The Raja of Perlis

Tuanku Syed Putra ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail


- The Sultan of Terengganu

Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Zainal Abidin III


- The Sultan of Perak

Sultan Yusuf Izzudin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Jalil Nasruddin Shah


- The Crown Prince of Johor

Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim

List of Yang di-Pertuan Agong

The following Rulers have served as Yang di-Pertuan Agong:

No Name State Reign Birth Death
1 Tuanku Abdul Rahman Negeri Sembilan Negeri Sembilan 31 August 1957 – 1 April 1960 24 August 1895 1 April 1960 (aged 64)
2 Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Selangor Selangor 14 April 1960 – 1 September 1960 13 May 1898 1 September 1960 (aged 62)
3 Raja Syed Putra Perlis Perlis 21 September 1960 – 20 September 1965 25 November 1920 16 April 2000 (aged 79)
4 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Terengganu Terengganu 21 September 1965 – 20 September 1970 24 January 1907 20 September 1979 (aged 72)
5 Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Kedah Kedah 21 September 1970  – 20 September 1975 28 November 1927 (age 88)
6 Sultan Yahya Petra Kelantan Kelantan 21 September 1975 – 29 March 1979 10 December 1917 29 March 1979 (aged 61)
7 Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Mustain Billah Pahang Pahang 26 April 1979 – 25 April 1984 24 October 1930 (age 84)
8 Sultan Iskandar Johor Johor 26 April 1984 – 25 April 1989 8 April 1932 22 January 2010 (aged 77)
9 Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Perak Perak 26 April 1989 – 25 April 1994 19 April 1928 28 May 2014 (aged 86)
10 Tuanku Jaafar Negeri Sembilan Negeri Sembilan 26 April 1994 – 25 April 1999 19 July 1922 27 December 2008 (aged 86)
11 Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Selangor Selangor 26 April 1999 – 21 November 2001 8 March 1926 21 November 2001 (aged 75)
12 Raja Syed Sirajuddin Perlis Perlis 13 December 2001 – 12 December 2006 17 May 1943 (age 72)
13 Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Terengganu Terengganu 13 December 2006 – 12 December 2011 22 January 1962 (age 53)
14 Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Kedah Kedah 13 December 2011 – 28 November 1927 (age 88)

Election

The compound of the Istana Negara at Jalan Istana, official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1957 to 2011. The palace's royal residential role was taken over by the new Istana Negara at Jalan Duta in 2011.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is formally elected to a five-year term by and from among the nine Rulers of the Malay states (nine of the thirteen states of Malaysia that have hereditary royal rulers), who form the Conference of Rulers (Majlis Raja-raja). After a ruler had served as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he may not stand for election until all rulers of the other states have also stood for election.

In the event of a vacancy of the office (by death, resignation, or deposition by a majority vote of the rulers), the Conference of Rulers elects a new Yang di-Pertuan Agong as if the previous term had expired. The new Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected for a full five-year term. After his term expires, the Conference holds a new election, in which the incumbent would not be re-elected.

The position de facto rotates among the nine Rulers. The selection of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong initially followed an order based on the seniority (calculated by length of reign) of each Ruler in 1957 at the Federation of Malaya's independence from the United Kingdom. The Conference of Rulers, which has the power to disqualify a candidate, has sometimes varied the original seniority order, as noted above. Minors are automatically disqualified from office.

The Conference of Rulers has met regularly since 1895. The membership of the council includes the four governors (Yang di-Pertua Negeri), but only royal rulers are allowed to vote and stand for election as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Qualifications

The Constitution provides that a Ruler is not eligible for election as Yang di-Pertuan Agong if:

Election proceedings

Letter of Appointment of His Majesty, the XIII Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Courtesy of the office of the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Conference of the Rulers of Malaysia.
Oath of Office of His Majesty, the XIII Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Courtesy of the office of the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Conference of the Rulers of Malaysia.

The election is carried out by a secret ballot. The ballot papers used are not numbered, but marked with the same pen and ink, and are inserted into a ballot box. Only the Rulers participate in the election.

A Ruler may appoint another Ruler as his proxy to vote on his behalf if he is unable to attend the Election Meeting.

During the election process, the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal distributes the ballot with only one candidate. Each Ruler is requested to indicate whether the candidate is suitable or not to be elected as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The most junior Ruler, who is not listed as nominee for the office of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is appointed to count the ballot papers together with the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal.

The nominee must have obtained a majority of five votes before the Ruler presiding over the Election Meeting offers him the office of Yang di-Pertuan Agong. If the successful nominee declines the offer or the nominated Ruler fails to secure the required majority votes, the voting process is repeated with the nomination of the second most senior Ruler in the Seniority List of Rulers. Rulers are named, and stand for election in turn.

The process is completed only after the Ruler has accepted the offer of the office of Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The Conference declares the Ruler as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to hold office for a term of five years. The ballot papers are destroyed in the presence of the Rulers as soon as the result of the election is announced.

On taking office as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he appoints a regent for the duration of his five-year term for the state which he rules. Usually, but not always, the regent is a close relative. The regent acts as head of state in that state for every purpose except for the role of head of Islam, which is retained by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

See also: Installation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for details of the installation ceremony

Order of seniority of states

After the first cycle of nine Yang di-Pertuan Agong (1957–1994), the order among the eligible state rulers has followed the order established by that cycle, namely:

  1. the Yang di-Pertuan Besar (or Yamtuan Besar) of Negeri Sembilan (itself an elective monarchy)
  2. the Sultan of Selangor
  3. the Raja of Perlis
  4. the Sultan of Terengganu
  5. the Sultan of Kedah
  6. the Sultan of Kelantan
  7. the Sultan of Pahang
  8. the Sultan of Johor
  9. the Sultan of Perak

This cycle was originally established based on seniority. However, the current Rulers are named (and stand as a candidate) according to the cycle, irrespective of whether they are currently the most senior. Since independence from British Colonial Rule, this has been the order of elected Yang di-Pertuan Agong. However, the order is not a precedent and the election to the position of Yang di-Pertuan Agong is at the pleasure of the Conference of Rulers. As an Elective Monarchy, there is no line of succession to the throne of Malaysia.

Four of the states of Malaysia have no hereditary royal rulers. These are Penang and Malacca in Peninsular Malaysia, and Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo. These four states, along with Malaysia's three federal territories, never supply the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong

The Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong) is elected by the same process immediately after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The office is usually (but not always) held by the ruler next in line after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong exercises the functions of the head of state during the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's absence, or inability to exercise his functions due to illness or infirmity (similar to a regent in other countries).

The Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong does not automatically succeed as Yang di-Pertuan Agong when a vacancy occurs in that office. The Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong acts as head of state before the election of the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The current Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong is Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan since 13 December 2011.

List of Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong

The following Rulers have served as Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong:[4]

No Name State In office Birth Death
1 Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Selangor Selangor 31 August 1957 – 1 April 1960 13 May 1898 1 September 1960
2 Raja Syed Putra Perlis Perlis 14 April 1960 – 1 September 1960 25 November 1920 16 April 2000
3 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Terengganu Terengganu 21 September 1960 – 20 September 1965 24 January 1907 20 September 1979
4 Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Kedah Kedah 21 September 1965  – 20 September 1970 28 November 1927
5 Sultan Yahya Petra Kelantan Kelantan 21 September 1970 – 20 September 1975 10 December 1917 29 March 1979
6 Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Mustain Billah Pahang Pahang 21 September 1975 – 29 March 1979 24 October 1930
7 Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Sir Ismail Al-Khalidi Johor Johor 26 April 1979 – 25 April 1984 8 April 1932 22 January 2010
8 Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Perak Perak 26 April 1984 – 25 April 1989 19 April 1928 28 May 2014
9 Tuanku Jaafar Negeri Sembilan Negeri Sembilan 26 April 1989 – 25 April 1994 19 July 1922 27 December 2008
10 Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Selangor Selangor 26 April 1994 – 25 April 1999 8 March 1926 21 November 2001
11 Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Perlis Perlis 26 April 1999 – 12 December 2001 17 May 1943
12 Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Terengganu Terengganu 13 December 2001 – 12 December 2006 22 January 1962
13 Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Kedah Kedah 13 December 2006 – 12 December 2011 28 November 1927
14 Muhammad V Kelantan Kelantan 13 December 2011 – 6 October 1969

Roles

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong's role is that of a constitutional monarch. The Federal Constitution and Parliamentary Acts made in accordance with it define the extent of his powers as the Federal Head of State. The executive power of the federal government is vested in him.

The monarch's powers are basically divided into two broad categories:

The discretionary powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong pertain chiefly to appointing the Prime Minister, withholding consent to dissolve Parliament, and calling meetings with the Conference of Rulers "concerned solely with the privileges, position, honours and dignities of Their Royal Highnesses." Under the Westminster System, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is expected to appoint a Prime Minister who will command the confidence of a majority of the elected lower house of Parliament, the Dewan Rakyat. Should the Prime Minister be or become unacceptable, he may be forced out by a vote of no confidence, which would require the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve Parliament on advice of the Prime Minister, or refuse to dissolve Parliament and appoint someone else as Prime Minister. Conventionally, the Prime Minister is the head of the party with a majority in Parliament. Since independence in 1957, this has been the Barisan Nasional (National Front, formerly known as the Alliance).

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong renews the appointment of a Prime Minister after every general election until the minister decides to step down. Whenever the Prime Minister chooses to dissolve Parliament, he calls for a general election. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may choose to refuse a Prime Minister's request to dissolve Parliament, as one of his discretionary powers.

Residences

The official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is Istana Negara (the National Palace) located in Jalan Duta in the federal capital Kuala Lumpur. It was completed in 2011. The old Istana Negara will be turned into a royal museum. Other residences include the royal retreat, Istana Melawati (Melawati Palace) in the federal administrative capital Putrajaya. It is also the venue of meetings of the Conference of Rulers (Malay: Majlis Raja-raja), which elects the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Appointments

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints numerous high-ranking office holders in the Federation under the terms of the Constitution and various Acts passed by Parliament. The constitution established procedures for such appointments.

The Council of Ministers (Cabinet)

Commissions and committees

Judges

Senators

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints 44 members of the Dewan Negara, the Malaysian Senate.

State governors

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governors), of the states of Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak, at his discretion, after considering the advice of the state's Chief Minister.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong also appoints the Mayor and City Council of Kuala Lumpur, which is a Federal Territory.

Head of Islam

In addition, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the Head of Islam in the four states ruled by appointed Governors, in the three Federal Territories, as well as in his own state. In this role, he is advised by the State Islamic Affairs Council in each of the States.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints the chairman and members of each council. He also appoints the State Mufti in each of these states. There is a single Islamic Affairs Council with jurisdiction for the three Federal Territories. This council is also appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Duties as Commander-in-Chief

In accordance with Article 41 of the Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is Commander-in-Chief of the Federation's Armed Forces. As such, he is the highest-ranking officer in the military chain of command.

As the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints the Chief of the Armed Forces Staff, on the advice of the Armed Forces Council. He also appoints the service heads of each of the three branches of the military forces.

King's Birthday

The first Saturday of June yearly is mandated by the Malaysian Constitution as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's official birthday. It is marked with various activities all over the nation and the celebrations in Kuala Lumpur are the highlights of the national festivities, with the celebrations of it from 2013 onward now lasting a whole week and two weekends.

King's Birthday Honours List Ceremony and Birthday High Tea

The Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur serves as the venue for the yearly King's Birthday Honours List and Address to the Nation ceremony attended by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, members of the Federal Government and Parliament, the state diplomatic corps, honoured guests and the Honours List members for the year, in the order of precedence of state medals. The event honours the year's national achievers and heroes with the awarding of state orders, medals and decorations and their accompanying titles. The King addresses the whole nation via radio and television on this day from the Throne Room of the palace complex. It is followed later by the traditional holiday high tea gathering at the palace grounds in the afternoon.

Trooping the Colour

Trooping the Colour in Malaysia, although inherited from the British, has transformed into a grander and more Malaysian celebration on the first Saturday of June annually live on Kuala Lumpur's Independence Square, which is both open to invited guests and the general public. As the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong takes the salute on this day together with the commanders of the three services of the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Joint Forces Command, Malaysia and the members of the Malaysian Armed Forces Council, of which he is the chairman, plus military personnel and veterans in attendance. He wears the No.1 dress uniform on that day, and as each of the 8 state monarchs are Colonel-in-Chief of selected Malaysian Army regiments as well as of the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Sultan of Selangor serves as Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy, he wears that regiment's coloured sash as part of his ceremonial uniform (for the Army), or the RMAF blue or RMN white no.1 dress uniform. The 2013 edition was held on the 2nd Saturday of June for the first time in its history.

Several features distinguish the Malaysian ceremony from other similar ones:

All three branches of the Armed Forces – the Malaysian Army (represented by the Royal Malay Regiment, the Royal Armoured Corps and others), the Royal Malaysian Navy, and the Royal Malaysian Air Force – participate in the Trooping, in their No. 1 uniforms. The band in attendance is either the Central Band of the Armed Forces or the Band of the National Defence University.

The Colours Party and the Escort for(to) the Colours also reflect the three participant Armed Forces branches. The Colours Party is composed of Ensigns, Colour Sergeants and assistant soldiers making up three Colours Parties from the Army, and there is also a single Colour Party each from the Navy and the Air Force. The Escort for(to) the Colours is a composite company, comprising an Army platoon and a squad each from the Navy and Air Force ready to receive their respective colours during the ceremony. The Parade Field Officer, Brigade Major and Adjutant are also from all the Armed Forces branches, and so too are the Regimental Sergeants-Major and Colour Sergeants.

RTM broadcasts this unique ceremony live, with the telecast starting at 8:50 in the morning with a nationwide simulcast.

Details of the Trooping

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Scholarship

In November 2006, the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong awarded, for the first time, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Scholarship to ten outstanding students to pursue postgraduate studies at high-ranking world universities. The award of scholarships was held at the Istana Negara in conjunction with the Independence Day celebrations and Council of Rulers Conference.[5]

Immunity

In 1993, amendments to the Malaysian constitution removed the legal immunity of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the rulers in their personal capacity. A Special Court (Makhamah Khas Raja-raja) is established where civil and criminal proceedings can be made against a ruler with the approval of the Attorney General. The right to sue a ruler is limited to Malaysian citizens following a precedent. The Special Court also have jurisdiction where a ruler initiates legal actions against any party.

When a ruler is charged with an offence in the Special Court, he is required to stop exercising the functions of a ruler. In the event of a ruler being sentenced to imprisonment for more than one day, he will cease to be a ruler unless a free pardon is granted.[6]

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong or any ruler cannot pardon himself or his immediate family. In such case, they may request clemency from the Conference of Rulers.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong cannot be sued in court for his actions while carrying out his official duties. Any claims can be made against the federal government.

Royal Standards

The Royal Standard of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is royal yellow with the Coat of arms of Malaysia in the center, surrounded by a rice paddy wreath. The same goes for the Royal Standards of the Raja Permaisuri Agong and the Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong, but the designs are different. The Raja Permaisuri Agong's standard is green in color, with the coat of arms at the center surrounded by the paddy wreath. The Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong's standard is bicolored, yellow at the top and light blue at the bottom, with the coat of arms at the center (without the paddy) and below that is the office bearer's title.

Royal style

Styles of
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Reference style His Majesty
Spoken style Your Majesty
Alternative style Tuanku

Formal address to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is taken seriously in Malaysia. There are two ways of addressing the Yang di-Pertuan Agong:

See also

Footnotes

    References

    1. ↑ Powers of the king.
    2. ↑ Constitutional Crisis, Crisis of 1983
    3. ↑ "Sultan of Kedah to be next Yang di-Pertuan Agong, for second time". The Malaysian Insider. 14 October 2011. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
    4. ↑ Senarai Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong
    5. ↑ "10 Students Awarded The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Scholarship 2006", Bernama, accessed 11 August 2009
    6. ↑ "Test case on right to sue Sultans" (20 August 2008), The Star (Malaysia), accessed 29 November 2011

    Further reading

    External links

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