Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Flag of the Supreme Head of Malaysia / Bendera Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the institutional Leader of the Country as decreed by the Constitution. The official term would be Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The king would perform his tasks as provided under the Constitution, with advice from the Prime Minister or the Cabinet Ministers.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the Leader of the Islamic religion for Pulau Pinang, Melaka, Sabah, Sarawak, and the Federal Territories. As the Head of the Country, he is also the Head of the Army. Yang di-Pertuan Agong is appointed every 5 years by rotation set in advance by the Rulers’ Council.

HISTORY OF THE KING’S APPOINTMENT

In August 1957, The Rulers’ Council had decided to have the title Yang di-Pertuan Agong bequeathed on the Head of the Country for the Federation of Malay States. The selection of Yang di-Pertuan Agong would have to follow the order of the longest reigning King. According to this order, Sultan of Johor, Sultan Sir Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar, who came to the throne in 1895, is the longest reigning king, but he declined the title due to old age (he was 84 years old).

The second in line, Sultan Pahang Sultan Sir Abu Bakar Riayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdullah Al-Mutassim Billah Shah, who came to the throne in 1932, had also declined the title. Therefore the third longest reigning king, Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad was unanimously chosen to become the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the Federation of Malay States. Before being crowned as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he was the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan since 1933.

THE SELECTION OF YANG DI-PERTUAN AGONG 

To be chosen as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, one would have to be a ruling King who reigns in one of 9 federated states, which are Johor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Perlis, Terengganu, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan. Yang di-Pertuan Agong was chosen by the Rulers’ Council according to customs dictated by the Federal Constitution and orders of the Rulers’ Council.

LIST OF YANG DI-PERTUAN AGONG 

THE FIRST Yang di-Pertuan Agong  

Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Muhammad
D.M.N., S.M.N.

Reigned from 31 August 1957 to 1 April 1960
Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan

THE SECOND Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Al-Marhum Tuanku Hisamuddin Alam Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Alaiddin Sulaiman Shah
D.M.N., D.K.(Brunei)

Reigned from 14 April 1960 to 1 September 1960
Sultan of Selangor

THE THIRD Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra ibni Al-Marhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail
D.M.N., S.P.M.P., D.K.M., D.M.N., S.M.N., D.K.(Selangor), S.P.D.K.(Sabah), D.K. (Kelantan), D.P.(Sarawak), D.K.(Kedah), D.K.(Pahang), D.K.(Johor), D.K.(Negeri Sembilan), D.P.S.S.(Sarawak), D.K.(Perak),  D.K.(Terengganu), D.K.M.B.(Brunei), Knight Commander of St. Micfhael&St. George (K.C.M.G), Raja of the Order of Sikatuna, Philippines (Noblest Award of Chivalry), The Great Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia, The Most Auspicious Order of the Royal Friendship of Thailand, Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (Japan), Cordone Hussein Ben Ali (Jordan), Collar of the Nile (United Arab Republic).

Reigned from 21 September 1960  to 20 September 1965
Sultan of Perlis

THE FOURTH Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Al-Marhum Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Zainal Abidin
D.K.,D.K.M.,D.M.N.,S.P.M.T.,D.K.(Kelantan), D.K.(Selangor), D.K.(Perak), D.K.(Pahang).

Reigned from 21 September 1965 to 20 September 1970
Sultan of Terengganu

THE FIFTH Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Al-Sultan Almu`tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu`adzam Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Badlishah
D.K.,D.K.H.,D.K.M.,D.M.N.,D.U.K.,D.K.(Kelantan), D.K.(Pahang), D.K.(Selangor),D.K.(Perlis), D.K.(Negeri Sembilan), D.K.(Johor), D.K.(Terengganu), D.K.(Perak), D.P.(Sarawak), D.U.N.M.,S.P.M.K.,S.S.D.K.,D.H.M.S.

Reigned from 21 September 1970 to 20 September 1975
Sultan of Kedah

THE SIXTH Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Al-Marhum Tengku Yahya Petra ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Ibrahim
D.K.,D.K.M.,D.M.N.,S.M.N.,S.P.M.K.,S.J.M.K.,S.P.S.K.,D.K.(Selangor), D.K.(Terengganu), D.K.(Kedah), D.K.(Brunei), D.K.(Pahang), D.K.(Perlis), D.P.(Sarawak).

Reigned from 21 September 1975 to 29 Mac 1979
Sultan of Kelantan

THE SEVENTH Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta`in Billah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri`Ayatuddin Al-Mu`adzam Shah
D.K.P.,D.K.,D.K.M.,S.S.A.P.,S.I.M.P.,D.M.N.,D.K.(Perak), D.K.(Johor), D.K.(Kelantan), D.K.(Terengganu), D.K.(Perlis), D.K.(Kedah), D.K.M.B.,D.K.(Brunei), D.K.(Negeri Sembilan), D.K.(Selangor).

Reigned from 26 April 1979 to 25 April 1984
Sultan of Pahang

THE EIGHTH Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Baginda Sultan Iskandar ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Ismail
D.K.
Reigned from 26 April 1984 to 25 April 1989
Sultan of Johor

THE NINTH Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-lah
D.K.,D.K.M.,D.M.N.,D.K(Kelantan), D.K.(Terangganu), D.K.(Perlis), D.K.(Johor), D.K.(Selangor), D.K.(Kedah), D.K.M.B.(Brunei), D.K.(Negeri Sembilan), D.K.(Pahang), S.S.M.,P.M.N.,P.S.M.,

Reigned from 26 April 1989 to 25 April 1994
Sultan of Perak

THE TENTH Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Ja`afar ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman
D.K., D.K.M., D.M.N., D.K.M.B. (Brunei), D.K. (Kelantan), D.K. (Kedah), D.K. (Selangor), D.K. (Perlis), D.K. (Johor), D.K. (Pahang), D.K. (Terengganu), D.K. (Perak)

Reigned from 26 April 1994 to 25 April 1999
Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan

THE ELEVENTH Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Al-Marhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Alhaj
D.K., D.K.M., D.M.N., S.P.M.S., S.S.S.A, D.K.M.B. (Brunei), D.K. (Terengganu), D.K. (Kelantan), D.K. (Perlis), D.K. (Johor), D.K. (Kedah), D.K. (Negeri Sembilan), D.K. (Perak), D.K. (Pahang), S.P.D.K. (Sabah), D.P. (Sarawak), D.U.M.M. (Melaka), P.J.K.

Reigned from 26 April 1999 to 21 November 2001
Sultan of Selangor

THE TWELFTH Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail
D.K.P., D.K., S.S.P.J., D.M.N., D.K.(Perak), D.K.(Negeri Sembilan), D.K.(Terengganu), S.P.M.J., S.P.C.M., S.S.M.T.

Appointed as Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 13 December 2001
Sultan of Perlis

THE THIRTEEN Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
D.K.T., D.K.R., D.M.N., S.S.M.Z., S.S.M.T., S.P.M.T., D.K. (Perlis), D.K.(Johor), D.K.M.B.(Brunei), D.K.(Perak), D.K.(Negeri Sembilan), D.K. (Kedah), D.K. (Kelantan), D.K. (Selangor), S.P.M.J., Commandeur De La Legion D'Honneur (France).

Appointed as Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 13 December 2006 .
Sultan of Terengganu

THE THIRTEEN Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Al-Sultan Almu`tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu`adzam Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Badlishah
D.K.,D.K.H.,D.K.M.,D.M.N.,D.U.K.,D.K.(Kelantan), D.K.(Pahang), D.K.(Selangor),D.K.(Perlis), D.K.(Negeri Sembilan), D.K.(Johor), D.K.(Terengganu), D.K.(Perak), D.P.(Sarawak), D.U.N.M.,S.P.M.K.,S.S.D.K.,D.H.M.S.

Reigned from 13 December 2011 - present

Election
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 be re-elected again until all other states had taken their turns.

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. Minors are automatically disqualified from office. After each of the nine Rulers of the states had served as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the order of seniority was based on the order of the states whose rulers have been elected the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

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

• Only a royal ruler may be elected.
• Only the royal rulers may vote.
• Rulers are elected in turn.

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

• The Ruler is a minor.
• The Ruler has notified the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal that he does not wish to be elected.
• The Conference of Rulers by a secret ballot resolves that the Ruler is unsuitable by reason of infirmity of mind or body, or for any other cause, to exercise the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The resolution requires at least five members of the Conference to vote in favour of it.

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 (the most senior Ruler). Each Ruler is requested to indicate whether the most senior Ruler 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.

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, all peninsular, state rulers has followed the order established by that cycle, namely:

• the Yang di-Pertuan Besar (or Yamtuan Besar) of Negeri Sembilan (itself an elective monarchy)
• the Sultan of Selangor
• the Raja of Perlis
• the Sultan of Terengganu
• the Sultan of Kedah
• the Sultan of Kelantan
• the Sultan of Pahang
• the Sultan of Johor
• the Sultan of Perak

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.