The "Yang di-Pertuan Agong" and the "Yang di-Pertuan Negeri" of Malaysia

Malaysia is a country which practices Parliamentary Democracy with Constitutional Monarchy. Quite a mouthful, isn't it?

In Malaysia, there is a king (or a raja, a sultan) and a prime minister. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong—sometimes called the Yang di-Pertuan Besar—(or the king) is the "paramount ruler" and the head of state at the state level. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong does not inherit his role. Rather, he is elected from nine hereditary state rulers for a five-year term. The prime minister, called the Yang di-Pertuan Negeri, appointed by the paramount ruler, is the head of state where there are no rulers. The government leaders are the Chief Ministers: Menteri Besar and Ketua Menteri.

Who leads the people of Malaysia? According to a website, "whatever action is taken by an authority is executed in the name of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong who acts on the advice of the Government." The king, however, has no substantive power. According to another website, he is a symbol of the sovereignty of Malaysia, and serves the formal/ceremonial role.

Malaysia's current king is Mizan Zainal Abidin.

(Picture from Wikipedia)

The current prime minister is Najib Tun Razak.

(Picture from Wikipedia)

Resources:

• Encyclopaedia Britannica
• Virtual Tourist
• Yang di-Pertuan Agong