Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur is the centrepiece of the country’s constitutional monarchy.
THE post of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was established in 1957, having initially been proposed by the Reid Commission as the drafter of the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya, says former Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim.
The proposal for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong post was made following the objection to the establishment of the Malayan Union, which was seen as an attempt by certain quarters to abolish the institution of the Malay Rulers.
This setup was a reflection of an idea by Malaysia’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj after observing the rotational monarchy system in Negri Sembilan, Rais said, Bernama reported.
In Negri Sembilan, the Undang Yang Empat, as the “Rulers” or ruling chieftains, elect a Ruler for the state in accordance with the state’s custom and tradition.After views, including from the Malay Rulers had been taken into consideration, the title of Yang di-Pertuan Besar was replaced with that of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong so as not to create confusion with the Ruler reigning in the custom-rich state.
In August 1957, after selecting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong title, the Conference of Rulers convened to elect a Malay Ruler to ascend the throne for the first time.
Based on who among the Rulers reigned the longest, the Sultan of Johor, Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Abu Bakar, who ascended the throne in 1895, was the longest reigning Sultan, but rejected the appointment due to his old age.
Second most senior was Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’ayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah Sultan Abdullah Al-Mutassim Billah Shah of Pahang who reigned from 1932, but he failed to get a sufficient number of votes from fellow Rulers to be appointed as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Sultan Ibrahim with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the ceremony of His Majesty’s swearing-in and signing of the instrument of office as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara on Jan 31. — Photo from Sultan Ibrahim’s official Facebook page
The third longest reigning Ruler was the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman Tuanku Muhammad, who ascended the throne in 1933.
He was appointed as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the Federation of Malaya.
According to the Federal Constitution, as the nation’s head of state, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong plays a role in the three branches of government, namely executive, legislative and judiciary.
Article 39 of the Federal Constitution stipulates that the executive authority of the Federation shall be vested in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and exercisable by the King himself or the Cabinet or any minister or any other person authorised by Parliament.
Pointing to the fact that the term Yang di-Pertuan Agong is mentioned more than 450 times in the Federal Constitution, Rais said this alone reflected the crucial role played by the institution in the country’s administration, as well as ensuring the well-being of the people.
