Monarchies of Malaysia
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The monarchies of Malaysia exist in each of the nine Malay states under the constitutional monarchy system as practised in Malaysia. The political system of Malaysia is based on the Westminster parliamentary system in combination with features of a federation.
Nine of the
Every five years or when a vacancy occurs, the rulers convene as the
Roles
Each of the nine rulers serves as the head of state of his own state, as well as the head of the religion of
The
A unique feature of the constitutional monarchy in Malaysia is the
History
Historically, various Malay kingdoms flourished on the
In the 19th century, as various infighting among the Malay aristocracy threatened British economic interests in the region, the British began a policy of intervention. The British concluded treaties with some Malay states, installing "
After
The present form of constitutional monarchy in Malaysia dates from 1957, when the Federation of Malaya gained independence. The rulers serve as constitutional heads of their states, with the state executive powers exercised by state governments elected by the people. The rulers elect among themselves a federal head of state, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, with the federal executive powers exercised by an elected federal government. The form of constitutional monarchy was retained when Malaysia was formed in 1963.[citation needed]
Kedah
According to the
The seat of the Sultan of Kedah is Anak Bukit, a suburb of Alor Setar.[7]
Kelantan
After centuries of subordination by
The state capital is Kota Bharu, while Kubang Kerian serves as the royal city. The main palace for ceremonial functions is Istana Balai Besar, while Istana Negeri serves as the current sultan's residence.[8]
Johor
The early Sultans of Johor claimed to be a continuation of the Malacca Sultanate. The first Sultan, Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II was the son of the last Sultan of Malacca, who reigned from 1528. In the 19th century, with support from the British, the Temenggong family gained recognition as rulers of the state. Its first sultan, Maharaja Abu Bakar is known as the founder of "modern Johor". His descendants rule the state today.[citation needed]
The Sultan of Johor resides in the capital, Johor Bahru.[citation needed]
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan's monarchy incorporates a form of federalism, whereby the state is divided into smaller luak (chiefdoms), each with a ruling undang (chieftain). Four of the major chieftains elect the Yang di-Pertuan Besar (Yam Tuan Besar), who is the Head of State of Negeri Sembilan.[citation needed]
The first Yam Tuan Besar was
The seat of the Yam Tuan Besar is Seri Menanti.[citation needed]
Chieftains / Undang
Chieftains are selected among the nobility in each Luak, following
District / Luak | Title | Ruler / Undang[10] | Reign since |
---|---|---|---|
Sungai Ujong | Dato' Klana Petra | Dato' Mubarak Dohak | 1993 |
Jelebu | Dato' Mendika Menteri Akhirulzaman | Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad | 2019 |
Johol | Dato' Johan Pahlawan Lela Perkasa Setiawan | Dato' Muhammad Abdullah | 2017 |
Rembau | Dato' Lela Maharaja / Dato' Sedia di-Raja | Dato' Muhamad Sharip Othman | 1999 |
Tampin
In addition, the district of Tampin has its own hereditary ruler, known as the Tunku Besar. The Tunku Besars of Tampin are descendants of Sharif Sha'aban Syed Ibrahim al-Qadri, the son-in-law of Raja Ali, a member of the state royal family who challenged the reign of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar in the early 19th century.[citation needed]
District / Luak | Title | Ruler[11] | Reign since |
---|---|---|---|
Tampin | Tunku Besar | Tunku Syed Razman al-Qadri | 2005 |
Pahang
The modern royal house of Pahang is a branch of the royal family of Johor. They held the title of Bendahara. In 1853, the Bendahara, Tun Muhammad Tahir, broke away from the Johor sultan and declared the state of Pahang independent. He was later deposed by his brother Ahmad, who declared himself Sultan in 1884.[citation needed]
The Sultan of Pahang resides in Istana Abdulaziz in Kuantan.[citation needed]
Perlis
The seat of the Raja of Perlis is Arau.[citation needed]
Perak
The
Selangor
The first Sultan of Selangor was HRH Sultan Sallehuddin Shah of Selangor. He took the title as the Sultan in November 1742. He was the son of the famous Bugis warrior Prince Daeng Chelak.[citation needed]
The state of Selangor is on the west coast of Peninsular of Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west. It surrounds the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, both of which were once under Selangor's territorial sovereignty.[citation needed]
The Sultan of Selangor resides in
Terengganu
The state of
The Sultan of Terengganu resides in
Succession
In seven of the Malay states,
In Negeri Sembilan, the
In Perak, the throne is rotated among three branches of the royal family. The system originated in the 19th century during the reign of the 18th Sultan of Perak, when it was decided that the throne would rotate among his three sons and their descendants. There are six positions in the order of succession, appointed by the reigning Sultan advised by his Royal Council. Traditionally, the eldest son of the reigning Sultan is placed at the end of the line. When a vacancy occurs in the line of succession, the persons behind in line is typically moved up, and the branch that formerly held the vacant seat is skipped. However, the order of succession is subjected to alteration by the Sultan and his Royal Council. For example, in 1987, Sultan Azlan Shah appointed his eldest son, Raja Nazrin Shah as the Raja Muda (first in line to the throne), bypassing the candidates from the other two branches. The appointment was due to the demise of the previous Raja Muda, Raja Ahmed Sifuddin, and the renouncement of the Raja Di-hilir (second in line to the throne), Raja Ahmad Hisham, for health reasons.[citation needed]
The
Table of monarchies
State | Monarch | Succession | Incumbent | Born | Age | Reigns since | Designated heir |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Malaysia | Yang di-Pertuan Agong
|
elective monarchy | Sultan Ibrahim | 22 November 1958 | 65 years, 155 days old | 31 January 2024 | None; elected by Conference of Rulers every 5 years or if the incumbent dies or abdicates the federal throne. |
Johor | Sultan | agnatic primogeniture | Sultan Ibrahim | 22 November 1958 | 65 years, 155 days old | 23 January 2010 | Tunku Ismail Idris, the Tunku Mahkota (eldest son) |
Kedah | Sultan | agnatic primogeniture | Sultan Sallehuddin | 30 April 1942 | 81 years, 361 days old | 11 September 2017 | Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah, the Raja Muda (eldest son) |
Kelantan | Sultan | agnatic primogeniture | Sultan Muhammad V | 6 October 1969 | 54 years, 202 days old | 13 September 2010 | Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra, the Tengku Mahkota (youngest brother) |
Negeri Sembilan | Yang di-Pertuan Besar | elective monarchy | Tuanku Muhriz | 14 January 1948 | 76 years, 102 days old | 29 December 2008 | None; elected by the four ruling chieftains (Undangs) from male descendants of previous Yamtuan Besars. |
Pahang | Sultan | agnatic primogeniture | Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah | 30 July 1959 | 64 years, 270 days old | 11 January 2019 | Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, the Tengku Mahkota (eldest son) |
Perak | Sultan | agnatic seniority | Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah | 27 November 1956 | 67 years, 150 days old | 29 May 2014 | Raja Jaafar, the Raja Muda (eldest uncle) |
Perlis | Raja | agnatic primogeniture | Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin | 17 May 1943 | 80 years, 344 days old | 17 April 2000 | Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra, the Raja Muda (eldest son) |
Selangor | Sultan | agnatic primogeniture | Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah | 24 December 1945 | 78 years, 123 days old | 21 November 2001 | Tengku Amir Shah, the Raja Muda (eldest son) |
Terengganu | Sultan | agnatic primogeniture | Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin | 22 January 1962 | 62 years, 94 days old | 15 May 1998 | Tengku Muhammad Ismail, the Yang di-Pertuan Muda (eldest son) |
Consorts
The title of the consort of a monarch is not generally fixed and not automatically obtained by courtesy. A consort may only use a title if it is granted to her either by order of the ruler or during a coronation ceremony.[14] The consorts of different states have different titles, some do not even receive one.[15] The title of a consort in a state may also change depending on the ruler. For instance, the wife of Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin of Terengganu was known as the Tengku Ampuan Besar,[16] while the wife of his grandson Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin is known as the Sultanah (formerly Permaisuri).[17]
Titles of consorts usually take the form Che Puan/Cik Puan, Raja Perempuan/Raja Permaisuri, Tengku Ampuan/Tengku Permaisuri, Sultanah or Permaisuri.[18]
List of consorts
State | Monarch | Consort | Title | Tenure |
---|---|---|---|---|
Malaysia | Yang di-Pertuan Agong
|
Raja Zarith Sofiah | Raja Permaisuri Agong | 31 January 2024 – present |
Johor | Sultan | Raja Zarith Sofiah | Permaisuri | 23 March 2015 – present |
Kedah | Sultan | Sultanah Maliha | Sultanah | 12 September 2017 – present |
Kelantan | Sultan | Sultanah Nur Diana Petra | Sultanah | 2 August 2022 – present |
Negeri Sembilan | Yamtuan Besar | Tuanku Aishah Rohani | Tunku Ampuan Besar | 29 December 2008 – present |
Pahang | Sultan | Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah | Tengku Ampuan | 22 January 2019 – present |
Perak | Sultan | Tuanku Zara Salim | Raja Permaisuri | 20 June 2014 – present |
Perlis | Raja | Tuanku Tengku Fauziah | Raja Perempuan | 14 July 2000 – present |
Selangor | Sultan | Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin | Tengku Permaisuri | 8 Sept 2016–present[19] |
Terengganu | Sultan | Permaisuri Nur Zahirah | Permaisuri | 19 July 1998 – 5 June 2006 |
Sultanah Nur Zahirah | Sultanah | 5 June 2006 – present |
Royal capitals
The royal capitals (Malay: Bandar diraja) are the cities and towns where the official residences of the rulers are situated. In some states, the royal capital is different from the administrative capital.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong resides in Kuala Lumpur.
States | Royal capital | State capital | Ruler title |
---|---|---|---|
Johor | Muar | Johor Bahru | Sultan |
Kedah | Alor Setar (Anak Bukit) | Alor Setar | Sultan |
Kelantan | Kota Bharu (Kubang Kerian) | Kota Bharu | Sultan |
Negeri Sembilan | Seri Menanti | Seremban | Yamtuan Besar (Yang di-Pertuan Besar) |
Pahang | Pekan | Kuantan | Sultan |
Perak | Kuala Kangsar |
Ipoh | Sultan |
Perlis | Arau | Kangar | Raja |
Selangor | Klang |
Shah Alam | Sultan |
Terengganu | Kuala Terengganu | Kuala Terengganu | Sultan |
Living former consorts
- Tunku Puan Nora (dowager of Sultan Ismail)[citation needed]
- Raja Permaisuri Tuanku Bainun (dowager of Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah)
- Permaisuri Siti Aishah (dowager of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah)
- Che Puan Besar Haminah (dowager of Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah)
- Cik Puan Besar Kalsom (dowager of Sultan Ahmad Shah)
- Raja Perempuan Tengku Anis (dowager of Sultan Ismail Petra)
References
- ^ Constitution of Malaysia:Article 38-2(b)
- ^ "Malaysia country brief". dfat.gov.au. September 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ^ Constitution of Malaysia:Article 3-2
- ^ "Malaysian democrats pin their hopes on the country's royals". The Economist. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
- ^ Constitution of Malaysia:Article 43-2
- Clifford, Hugh Charles; Graham, Walter Armstrong (1911). Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 478–484. . In
- ^ Malaysia in history (1956). Malaysian Historical Society. Volumes 3–5, p 11.
- ^ Muhammad Ismail Ibrahim (17 March 2011). Kelantan's Castle: The Royal Palace. The Kelantan Times. Accessed 13 June 2011.
- ^ S. Indramalar (26 October 2009). "History in the making: Negri Sembilan welcomes a new ruler after 40 years". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
- ^ "Undang Institution". State Government of Negeri Sembilan. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ "Undang Institution". State Government of Negeri Sembilan. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ Radi Mustapha (26 October 2008). "Ceremony and protocol". Installation of the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir. Malay Mail. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- ^ "Tuanku Muhriz is new Negri Ruler". The Malaysian Insider. 30 December 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- ^ "No 'sultanah' title or special perks for 2 Johor consorts". New Straits Times. 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- ^ "[Order of precedence for the Raja Permaisuri Agong, royal consorts and wives of Yang di-Pertua Negeri]". Office of the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal. Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
- ^ "Yang di-Pertuan Agong IV". His Majesty and Her Majesty. MalaysianMonarchy.org.my. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- ^ "Yang di-Pertuan Agong XIII". His Majesty and Her Majesty. MalaysianMonarchy.org.my. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- ^ "Schedule 6. Exemption From Tax", Income Tax Act 1967, 1967
- ^ "Sultan Sharafuddin's consort proclaimed as Tengku Permaisuri Selangor".