©Bernama (Used
by permission)
By Lizawati Bahanan
KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) –– Malaysia has a unique system where its
Head of State, the Yang di–Pertuan Agong, is picked from the country's nine
Malay rulers.
This system, which began when the country achieved independence in 1957, is
unique in its own right as compared to the monarchy systems in other countries.
Under the Federal Constitution, the Yang di–Pertuan Agong is not selected by the
people, but by the nine Malay rulers at the Rulers Conference via secret
balloting.
The King holds office for five years and steps down at the end of this period,
allowing another Malay Ruler to take his place through the same selection
method.
Through this rotation system, the "throne of governance" remains, only the Ruler
who wears the crown changes.
The Malay rulers who are eligible to sit on this throne are the Yang Di–Pertuan
Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Sultan of Selangor, Raja of Perlis, Sultan of
Terengganu, Sultan of Kedah, Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan of Pahang, Sultan of
Johor and Sultan of Perak.
However at the state level, the Malay rulers practise the inheritance concept in
deciding the ascension to the throne.
Since the Yang Di–Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Abdul Rahman Tuanku
Muhammad in 1957, 12 kings have ruled the country as the Yang di–Pertuan Agong.
The 13th King, Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin will be installed
on April 26.
BASED ON NEGERI SEMBILAN SYSTEM
The rotation used by the nine Undang of Negeri Sembilan, based on the
Minangkabau culture and practice, has inspired the first Prime Minister Tunku
Abdul Rahman Putra to use it for the selection of Malaysia's Yang di–Pertuan
Agong.
Tunku was entrusted with the implementation of a proposal by the Reid Commission
in 1957 for the Yang di–Pertuan Agong to be picked from among the Malay rulers,
a system never practised by any other countries.
Article 32 of the Federal Constitution states that the Yang di–Pertuan Agong is
the Head of State. It also says that the King should be picked from among the
Malay rulers via a secret ballot, for a period of five years.
A King, who wishes to step down from the throne, can do so by informing the
Rulers Conference or he can also be removed based on the Federal Constitution.
These two situations have never occurred in the country.
However the throne became vacant when the 11th Yang di–Pertuan Agong, Sultan
Selangor Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Sultan Hishammuddin Alam
Shah died in office after serving as the King for only two and half years.
KINGS WHO DIED IN OFFICE
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, born on March 8 in 1926 at Istana Bandar
Temasya, Kuala Langat, received his early education at the Pengkalan Batu Malay
School, Klang. He later went to study at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK).
The 7th Sultan of Selangor was named the Yang di–Pertuan Agong on April 26, 1999
and installed on Sept 11, 1999.
He died on Nov 21, 2001 at the Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Apart from Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, there were two more kings who died
while in office –– Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah's father, Sultan Sir
Hisamuddin Alam Shah Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah, the 2nd Yang di–Pertuan
Agong and Sultan Yahya Petra Sultan Ibrahim of Kelantan, the 6th King.
Sultan Sir Hisamuddin, the 5th Sultan of Selangor, was installed as the Yang
di–Pertuan Agong on April 14, 1960. His Royal Highness died on Sept 1, 1960 at
Istana Tetamu, Kuala Lumpur after being taken ill for 27 days.
Sultan Yahya Petra Sultan Ibrahim died after serving some four years as the
King. Born on Dec 10, 1917 in Istana Balai Besar, Kota Baharu, Kelantan, the
Sultan obtained his early education at Francis Light School, Pulau Pinang at the
age of 14.
His Royal Highness became the Yang di–Pertuan Agong on June 19, 1975 and died on
March 29, 1979.
SPECIAL COURT
The Yang di–Pertuan Agong, as with the other Malay rulers, can be charged in his
personal capacity for offences committed and will be tried in a Special Court.
The King also decides on matters of government administration, based on the
advice of the Prime Minister or the Cabinet of Ministers.
The Yang di–Pertuan Agong also has the authority to:
* Appoint the Prime Minister who obtains the support from among the majority
members of Parliament.
* Reject the request to dissolve Parliament
* Call for a special sitting for the Rulers Conference on matters mentioned in
the Federal Constitution as well as that on the rights and privileges of the
Malay rulers.
Only the King has the right to call for the sitting and dissolution of the
Parliament apart from appointing the Prime Minister and on the Prime Minister's
advice, naming the ministers and deputy ministers.
The Yang di–Pertuan Agong assumes the post of Field Marshall for the country's
armed forces and has the right to bestow medals and honours on people from
various walks of life.
His Royal Highness is also the Head of Islamic Religion for states without Malay
rulers –– Melaka, Pulau Pinang, Federal Territory, Sabah, Sarawak and his own
state.
The King has the authority to appoint judges and grant pardons on offences found
guilty by the Court Martial as well as courts in the Federal Territory.
SULTAN MIZAN ZAINAL ABIDIN
Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, was selected by the Conference
of Rulers as the 13th Yang di–Pertuan Agong, taking over from the Raja of
Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail.
The 44–year–old Sultan Mizan, whose title is Al–wathiqu Billah, was named the
Yang di–Pertuan Agong last Dec 13 and his installation is on April 26.
Sultan Mizan was born on Jan 22, 1962 in Istana Al–Muktafi, Kuala Terengganu.
His Royal Highness was proclaimed the 16th Sultan of Terengganu on May 15, 1998
after the death of his father Sultan Mahmud Al Muktafi Billah Shah.
His Majesty is active in equestrian, polo, soccer, golf and tennis.
Sultan Mizan is also the Terengganu Islamic and Malay Culture Council from June
1, 1991 until Dec 1995.
His Royal Highness married Permaisuri Raja Nur Zahirah in 1996. The royal couple
has four children –– Tengku Nadhirah Zahrah, 10, Tengku Mohammad Ismail, eight,
Tengku Muhammad Mua'az, six and Tengku Fatimatuz Zahra',four.
His son Tengku Muhammad Ismail was named the Regent of Terengganu during Sultan
Mizan's reign as the Yang di–Pertuan Agong.
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Yang di–Pertuan Agong: Monarchy Within Democracy
22 Apr 2007 12:00 am