King of Malaysia
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (lit. 'He Who is Made Lord',[2] Jawi: يڠ دڤرتوان اݢوڠ), also known as the Supreme Head of the Federation, the Paramount Ruler, or simply the Agong and also unofficially as the King of Malaysia,[3] is the constitutional monarch and head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957, when the Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia) gained independence from the United Kingdom. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected by the Conference of Rulers, comprising the nine rulers of the Malay states, with the office de facto rotated between them, making Malaysia one of the world's few elective monarchies.
"Yang di-Pertuan Agong" and "Agong" redirect here. For the gong, see Agung. For other uses, see Agung (disambiguation).King of Malaysia
- Istana Negara (official)
- Istana Melawati (secondary)
Five years, non-renewable immediately
31 August 1957
The 17th and current Yang di-Pertuan Agong is Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor. He was elected on 26 October 2023, at a special meeting of the Conference of Rulers; he took the oath of office and was sworn in at the Istana Negara on 31 January 2024. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong's queen consort is known as the Raja Permaisuri Agong, currently Raja Zarith Sofiah. The royal couple are styled in English as "His Majesty" and "Her Majesty".[4]
Immunity[edit]
In 1993, amendments to the Malaysian constitution removed the legal immunity of the King and the state rulers in their personal capacity, due to public outrage over their behaviour.[8] A Special Court (Makhamah Khas Raja-raja) is established where civil and criminal proceedings can be made against a ruler with the approval of the Attorney General. The right to sue a ruler is limited to Malaysian citizens following a precedent. The Special Court also have jurisdiction where a ruler initiates legal actions against any party.
When a ruler is charged with an offence in the Special Court, he is required to stop exercising the functions of a ruler. In the event of a ruler being sentenced to imprisonment for more than one day, he will be forced to abdicate from his duties as a ruler unless a free pardon is granted.[9]
The King or any ruler cannot pardon himself or his immediate family. In such case, they may request clemency from the Conference of Rulers.
The King cannot be sued in court for his actions while carrying out his official duties. Any claims can be made against the federal government.
Styles of
The King of Malaysia
His Majesty
Your Majesty
Tuanku
The King's official full style and title in Malay is Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Common English terms used in the media and by the general public include "Paramount Ruler", "Head of State", "Head of the Federation" and "Head of State of the Federation". The very common term "King" has also been conveniently used by the media and the public, although incorrectly as it is not an official or legal title of the federal ruler.
In Malaysian passports before 2010, the title "The Supreme Head of Malaysia" was used in the English version of the passport note. Since the issuance of ICAO-compliant e-passports in 2010, the untranslated title "His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia" has been used.
In formal English correspondence, for many years the King was referred to as "His Majesty The Yang di-Pertuan Agong". In January 2024, this was changed to "His Majesty The King of Malaysia".[10]
Formal address to the King is taken seriously in Malaysia. There are two ways of addressing the King:
Royal Standards[edit]
The Royal Standard of the King is royal yellow with the Coat of arms of Malaysia in the centre, surrounded by a rice paddy wreath coloured gold - both are traditional royal colours in the peninsula. The same goes for the Royal Standards of the Queen and the Deputy King, but the designs are different. The Queen's standard is green in colour, with the coat of arms at the centre surrounded by the paddy wreath. The Deputy King's standard is bicolored, yellow at the top and light blue at the bottom, with the coat of arms at the centre (without the paddy) and below that is the office bearer's title in a gold scroll.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Scholarship[edit]
In November 2006, the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong awarded, for the first time, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Scholarship to ten outstanding students to pursue postgraduate studies at high-ranking world universities. The award of scholarships was held at the Istana Negara in conjunction with the Independence Day celebrations and the Conference of Rulers.[14]