THE first Yang di-Pertuan Agong was appointed in 1957, and the country has since seen the reign of 17 kings under Malaysia’s unique constitutional monarchy system.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong institution was established ahead of Malaya’s independence, with the position rotated among the Malay Rulers every five years through election by the Conference of Rulers.
Traditionally, the longest-serving Malay Ruler was chosen as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Based on the length of reign among the Malay Rulers at the time, Major-General Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor, who ascended the throne in 1895, was the longest-serving Ruler.
However, he declined the appointment as Yang di-Pertuan Agong due to his advanced age, as he was 84 at the time.
The next in line based on seniority was Sultan Sir Abu Bakar Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mu’adzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdullah Al-Mutassim Billah Shah of Pahang, who ascended the throne in 1932.
However, the Sultan did not receive sufficient support to be appointed.
Subsequently, Tuanku Abdul Rahman Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad of Negri Sembilan, who ascended the state throne in 1933, was appointed as the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the Federation of Malaya.
Below is the list of Malaysia’s Yang di-Pertuan Agong since Independence:
Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad (Negri Sembilan) Aug 31, 1957 – April 1, 1960
Almarhum Tuanku Hisamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Alaiddin Sulaiman Shah (Selangor) April 14, 1960 – Sept 1, 1960
Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail (Perlis) Sept 21, 1960 – Sept 20, 1965
Almarhum Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Zainal Abidin (Terengganu)Sept 21, 1965 – Sept 20, 1970
Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah (Kedah) Sept 21, 1970 – Sept 20, 1975
Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim (Kelantan) Sept 21, 1975 – March 29, 1979
Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mu’adzam Shah (Pahang) April 26, 1979 – April 25, 1984
Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail (Johor) April 26, 1984 – April 25, 1989
Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-lah (Perak) April 26, 1989 – April 25, 1994
Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Negri Sembilan) April 26, 1994 – April 25, 1999
Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Alhaj (Selangor) April 26, 1999 – Nov 21, 2001
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail (Perlis) Dec 13, 2001 – Dec 12, 2006
Al-Wathiqu Billah Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah (Terengganu) Dec 13, 2006 – Dec 12, 2011
Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah (Kedah) Dec 13, 2011 – Dec 12, 2016
Sultan Muhammad V (Kelantan) Dec 13, 2016 – Jan 6, 2019
Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah (Pahang) Jan 31, 2019 – Jan 30, 2024
His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar State Johor Term of Office Jan 31, 2024 – Present
