THERE are 26 monarchies in the world. Of the total, nine are in Malaysia. The Malaysian sultanate is also one of the oldest in the world.
The Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, otherwise known as the Kedah Annals, named the Kedah sultanate as one of the oldest in the country when King Phra Ong Mahawangsa ascended the throne as Sultan Mudzafar Shah in 1136.
The office of The Yang di-Pertuan Agong was created as a result of a declaration by the Reid Commission, which drafted the Federal Constitution. The proposal for the office of The Yang di-Pertuan Agong came about due to the opposition to the establishment of the Malayan Union, which was seen as an attempt to abolish the institution of the Malay Rulers.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is formally elected to a five-year term by the nine rulers of the Malay states namely Perlis, Kedah, Perak Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, who form the Conference of Rulers.
His Majesties elect a new Yang di-Pertuan Agong when the term of office has expired or in the event of a vacancy of the office (by death, resignation, or deposition by a majority vote of the 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. This cycle was originally established based on seniority. However, the current Rulers are named (and stand as a candidate) according to the cycle, irrespective of whether they are currently the most senior. However, the order is not a precedent and the election to the position of Yang di-Pertuan Agong is at the pleasure of the Conference of Rulers.
The Conference of Rulers elected the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong in August 1957. By seniority, the 84-year-old Sultan Sir Ibrahim Al Masyhur Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abu Bakar Al-Khalil Ibrahim Shah of Johore was first in line but His Majesty declined the appointment due to old age. The second in the sequence, Sultan Sir Abu Bakar Riayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdullah Al-Mutassim Billah Shah of Pahang, who ruled in 1932, did not get enough mandate to be appointed.
Negeri Sembilan’s Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Abdul Rahman Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad became the country’s first Yang di-Pertuan Agong when he was elected by the Conference of Rulers by eight votes to one. On January 24, 2019, the Conference of Rulers elected Al-Sultan Abdullah Riayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Mustain Billah as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The new King took oath of office in January 31, 2019. The ceremonial installation ceremony will be held at a later date.
In this special exhibition to commemorate the election of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Galeri Prima together with the New Straits Times traces the life and times of all 15 Yang di-Pertuan Agong. There is also a special section on the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The New Straits Times has in its archives thousands of photographs from the installation of the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1957 to the present.
We also share with you the front covers of the newspaper on our coverage of the installation of all The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
As a newspaper that records history, we are proud to bring to you this exhibition.
Daulat Tuanku
Daulat Tuanku
Daulat Tuanku
Learn more about the exhibition: E-Catalogue
