KLL-Aug19

FEATURES
FEATURES
MONARCHS OF MALAYSIA
About Malaysia’s Constitutional Monarchy
BY JACQUELINE BENITA PAUL
LIST OF MALAYSIA’S YANG DI-PERTUAN AGONG
Name State Reign Date of Birth Death
Tuanku Abdul Rahman Negeri Sembilan 31 August 1957
– 1 April 1960
Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Selangor 14 April 1960
– 1 September 1960
24 August 1895 1 April 1960
(aged 64)
13 May 1898 1 September 1960
(aged 62)
Today, there are 26 monarchies in
the world. Among them, Malaysia’s
is considered as one of the most
unique of the lot. Malaysia practises
parliamentary democracy with a
constitutional monarch. There are nine
sultans or rulers in the country, which
comprises 13 states and 3 Federal
Territories, forming one of the world’s
largest monarchy systems. The oldest
ruling house belongs to Kedah state
which dates back to the 12th century.
OVERVIEW OF MALAYSIA’S MONARCHY
His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
is the supreme head of the country.
The supreme institution of Malaysia is
the Conference of Rulers (Majlis Raja-
Raja) – which was formed on August
27, 1957. It comprise the hereditary
rulers of the nine states in Peninsular
Malaysia and four state governors
appointed by the king. Since Malaysia’s
Independence in 1957, the selection
process of Malaysia’s king is based on
a rotating system. In a shocking turn of
events early this year, the nation saw
the resignation of Sultan Muhammad
V who was the first king to step down
before completing his five-year tenure.
DUTIES OF HIS MAJESTY THE YANG
DI-PERTUAN AGONG
While it is largely a ceremonial role,
the king serves various executive,
legislative and judicial functions.
Article 42 of the Federal Constitution
states: (1) His Majesty Yang di-
Pertuan Agong has the power to
grant pardons, reprieves and respites
in respect of all offences committed
in the Federal Territories of Kuala
Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya; and
the Ruler or Governor of a State has
power to grant pardons, reprieves and
respites in respect of all other offences
committed in his State.” The king is
also the head of Islam in Malaysia.
Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail Perlis 21 September 1960
– 20 September 1965
Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Terengganu 21 September 1965
– 20 September 1970
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam
Shah (1st term)
Kedah 21 September 1970
– 20 September 1975
Sultan Yahya Petra Kelantan 21 September 1975
– 29 March 1979
Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang 26 April 1979
– 25 April 1984
Sultan Iskandar Johor 26 April 1984
– 25 April 1989
Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin
Shah
Perak 26 April 1989
– 25 April 1994
Tuanku Ja’afar Negeri Sembilan 26 April 1994
– 25 April 1999
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz
Shah
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra
Jamalullai
Selangor 26 April 1999
– 21 November 2001
Perlis 13 December 2001
– 12 December 2006
Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Terengganu 13 December 2006
– 12 December 2011
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam
Shah (2nd term)
Kedah 13 December 2011
– 12 December 2016
25 November 1920 16 April 2000
(aged 79)
24 January 1907 20 September 1979
(aged 72)
28 November 1927 11 September 2017
(aged 89)
10 December 1917 29 March 1979
(aged 61)
24 October 1930 22 May 2019
(aged 88)
8 April 1932 22 January 2010
(aged 77)
19 April 1928 28 May 2014
(aged 86)
19 July 1922 27 December 2008
(aged 86)
8 March 1926 21 November 2001
(aged 75)
17 May 1943
(age 76)
22 January 1962
(age 57)
28 November 1927 11 September 2017
(aged 89)
-
-
Sultan Muhammad V Kelantan 13 December 2016
– 6 January 2019
6 October 1969
(age 49)
-
Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin
Al - Mustafa Billah Shah
Pahang 31 January 2019
– present
30 July 1959
(age 59)
-
22 l KL LIFESTYLE
KL LIFESTYLE l 23