The Monarchy in Contemporary Malaysia

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong

10 Raja Nazrin Shah or newly independent countries tended to go for a republican system of government — in some cases moving from a monarchy to the latter, which was clearly the more fashionable option, seen as synonymous with modernity. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong6 Malaya, when it had the constitutional choice, not only retained its traditional sultanates at the state level but also introduced another layer of monarchy into the federal system, through an overall, supreme Ruler, thereby elevating the institution. Part of my theme is that the monarchy in our country is far from stagnant; revitalizing itself to stay in tune with the dynamics of the society in which we live and serve. The British legacy at Independence was a sound institutional framework, and it might have seemed difficult to improve upon. The new constitutional monarchy nevertheless represented a major innovation. While based on the British model, it nevertheless had its own indigenous identity. The founding fathers had to accommodate the rights and expectations of nine Rulers, the wishes of the rakyat, and the political constituency represented at federal level by the Prime Minister and at state level by the Chief Ministers. Helping to fuse these 11 The Monarchy in Contemporary Malaysia disparate elements was the common national vision and goal, an essential unity symbolized by an overall Monarch or Supreme Ruler to whom all Malaysians owed their allegiance. This entailed a newly created position — the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or overall Ruler, which literally means “He who is supreme amongst us”, that is, primus inter pares. “Supreme amongst us” because there was the somewhat delicate problem of no less than nine candidates. To whom should preferment go? It was resolved by democracy, instituting the charming custom of five-year Kings to be found nowhere else on this planet. They invented the unique practice of electing the Agong. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is chosen by his brother Rulers, in the Conference of Rulers,7 and in secret conclave, rather like electing a Pope. There was one other distinctive contribution . The throne rotates. Each Agong reigns for five years then graciously steps down allowing his brother Rulers the opportunity in turn to play a role on the national stage. The procedure gives due recognition to each state. The new so-called Merdeka Constitution , which introduced these practices, was concerned with preserving the traditional importance of the states. ...