Malaysia has a constitutional monarchy system where the Agong is the head of state. The Agong is elected every five years from among the nine Malay state rulers and serves as a largely ceremonial figurehead with limited powers defined by the constitution. These powers include appointing the prime minister, dissolving parliament at the prime minister's request, and conferring honors, with restrictions on ruling their state or leaving the country for long periods. While the Agong has immunity from prosecution for official acts, this was revised in 1992 after an incident to clarify that immunity does not apply to personal conduct.

1. DEMOCRACTIC
SYSTEM IN MALAYSIA
CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCH

2. CONSTITUTIONAL
MONARCH
• Malaysia is a monarchy
• The Agong is a constitutional monarch –
He does not have absolute power except
certain powers conferred by the
constitution
• The Agong is elected every five years.
• This system was the innovation of the
country’s first Prime Minister, Tunku
Abdul Rahman

3. The Present Monarch
HRH Yang diPertuan Agung Tuanku
Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Al-Marhum
Tuanku Syed Putra

4. Appointment of the
Agong
• Only Sultans are eligible
• Is heading a state in Malaysia
• Is elected from the nine Sultans
forming the Council of Rulers
• Is matured male, Malay and Muslim
• Is mentally sound

5. The Role of the Agong
• Holds executive authority in the
Malaysian government’s three main
organs
• Head of religion
• Power of pardon
• Proclamation of emergency
• Appointments of persons of important
offices
• Serves for five years
• Supreme Commander of the Armed
Forces
• Symbol of Honor and Dignity
• Diplomatic Functions

6. His Discretionary
Power
• To appoint a Prime Minister
• To agree or reject dissolving the
parliament as requested by the
Prime Minister
• To request holding the Malay
Rulers’ Meeting to discuss matters
related to the status of the Malay
rulers
• To confer the roll of honor

7. His Restrictions
• Can not rule his own state unless
for
– Head of Islamic matters
– Amendment of state list
– Conferring of roll of honor
• Can not leave the country for more
than 15 days unless for official trip
• Can not hold any positions that
pays salary or allowance

8. • Can not involve in business
• Can be tried in Royal court for
personal misconduct
• Can not give royal pardon to
himself, his Queen and sons but
can be pardoned by the
Conference of Rulers

9. RULERS IMMUNITY
• The Constitution is the highest law in
Malaysia
• In Malaysia, the Parliament holds limited
power
• The YDPA’s authority is also limited – as
stated in the constitution
• Our constitution provides privileges to
YDPA – immunity power

10. • In 1992 – due to an incident where a ruler
punished a commoner – evoked a cause
to revise the immunity power
• Under Article 181 (2) rulers’ immunity was
too general - may be misused and abused
that may weaken the status of the Malay
Rulers
• The revised constitution stated the
immunity of the YDPA is limited to official
matters only
• Any personal action taken for personal
interests is under the ruling of law
• All informal privileges not stated in
Constitution should not be observed
anymore