Malaysia, a constitutional monarchy

Sultan Muhammad V (right) with the other Rulers (from left) Perak’s Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, Pahang’s Sultan Ahmad Shah, then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, Raja Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, Terengganu’s Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin and Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, at Istana Negara on Oct 14 last year for the meeting of the Conference of Rulers. — Bernama

THE constitutional monarchy in Malaysia, along with her parliamentary system, is a vestige of the country’s British colonial past.

Unlike in the United Kingdom, where Queen Elizabeth II has reigned as monarch for over 65 years, Malaysia’s Yang di-Pertuan Agong however changes every five years.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Malaysia’s constitutional monarch and head of state, is chosen among the rulers from nine states in Malaysia, namely the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, the Raja of Perlis, the Sultan of Selangor, the Sultan of Terengganu, the Sultan of Kedah, the Sultan of Kelantan, the Sultan of Pahang, the Sultan of Johor, and the Sultan of Perak, on a rotational basis through an election by the Conference of Rulers.

Although the members of the Conference of Rulers include the four Yang di-Pertua Negeri or governors from the states of Sarawak, Sabah, Malacca and Penang, only the royal rulers are allowed to vote or stand for election as the King.

The process has been in place since the country, then Malaya, gained its independence from Britain in 1957. The voting process was borrowed from Negri Sembilan, where the ruling chiefs of Sungai Ujong, Johol, Jelebu and Rembau take turns to be the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. Among the factors considered when selecting a new Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the health, both mental and physical, of the candidate, and his willingness to assume the post.

According to the original custom, the most senior Ruler, based on the Ruler’s length of reign in his home state, is elected the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

This custom, however, is no longer followed as all Rulers of the nine states of the country have all had their turns to become King.

After the reign of the Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah, the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Reconstituted List was drawn up and based on the order of the first to the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and subsequent Kings are to be elected according to this order.

The elected Yang di-Pertuan Agong will appoint a Regent to take over his duties in his home state for the duration of his five-year term. A Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong is also elected at the same time to stand in whenever the King is away or unable to rule.

Negri Sembilan Ruler Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad was the country’s first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, reigning from Aug 31, 1957 until his death in office on April 1, 1960.