http://www.thestar.com.

my/News/Nation/2014/06/07/Tuanku-Abdul-Halims-official-duties/

AS the Supreme Head of the Federation of Malaysia, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is a
constitutional monarch and acts in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or of a minister
acting under the general authority of the Cabinet.

Under Malaysia’s parliamentary democracy system, the King is the formal head of the
Executive. His Majesty appoints the Prime Minister, ministers and deputy ministers. He
commissions Malaysian ambassadors and high commissioners for their duties abroad.

His Majesty’s responsibilities and functions also extend to the legislature, judiciary and
beyond.

Parliament is the highest legislative body in Malaysia. It consists of the King as the Head of
State, the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.

Under Article 55 of the Federal Constitution, only The King can summon for Parliament to
be in session. His Majesty also has the absolute power to dissolve Parliament.

His Majesty also plays a vital role in the judiciary. On the advice of the Prime Minister, he
appoints the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief
Judge of Malaya, the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, judges of the Federal Court, judges
of the Court of Appeal and judges of the High Courts.

Under the Constitution, the Ruler has the power to grant pardons in respect of all offences
which have been tried by court-martial and all offences committed in the Federal Territories
of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.

In addition, Under Article 41 of the Federal Constitution, His Majesty is the Supreme
Commander of the Armed Forces.

He also has the power, upon being advised to do so, to declare a state of emergency in
accordance with Article 150 of the Constitution. Under Article 3 of the Federal Constitution,
the King is the Head of Islamic Affairs in Malacca, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak, which have
a Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

The Election Commission is also appointed by the Ruler after consultation with the
Conference of Rulers.
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The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has extensive powers within the Constitution.

Despite the interval between the two dates, the King has all the powers vested upon him as
our system is a constitutional monarchy in which the King is elected, says constitutional
expert Datuk Prof Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi.

“There is no break in the Monarchy as the King has been elected by his fellow Sultans and
the day he ascends to the throne is the day he has all the full powers as the Head of State,”
notes Prof Shad Saleem.

The powers of the King under the Constitution are as follows and they are by no means
exhaustive:

> The Head of Religion for the entire country (Article 3).

> The Supreme Head of the nation, subjected to constitutional limitations (Article 32).

> The King shall enjoy total immunity from Law except specifically charged by a Special
Court (consisting of the Chief Justice, High Court judges plus two more judges from the
Federal Court or High Court appointed by the Conference of Rulers) in his personal capacity
with prior approval from the Attorney-General (Article 32 and Article 182 and 183).

> Gets to keep and use the Public Seal of the Federation (Article 36).

> Possesses the power to pardon, grant reprieves, remit, suspend or commute sentences of
convicted persons, under the advice of the Pardon Board (Article 38 and 42) for offences
tried by court-martial and all offences in the Federal Territories. Also the power to pardon,
grant reprieves, remit, suspend or commute sentences imposed by the Syariah courts in
Malacca, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak or the Federal Territories (Article 42).

Can exercise the executive authority as Head of State, subjected to existing Federal laws
(Article 39) and on advice from the Cabinet and shall accept that advice and can request for
any information concerning the Government that is available to the Cabinet (Article 40).

> Has discretionary powers to choose who he wants as the Prime Minister and is not bound
by the decision of the outgoing PM and if no party has won a majority vote (Article 40). It,
however, does not afford him the right and authority to dismiss the PM.

> Can dismiss or withhold consent to a request for the dissolution of Parliament (Article 40).
May discontinue or dissolve Parliament (Article 55) but he can only dissolve Parliament at
the request of the PM (Article 43).

> Is authorised to call a Conference of Rulers but the agenda of this meeting is limited to
discussions dealing solely with the privileges, position, honours and dignities of Their Royal
Highnesses (Article 40).

> Is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (Article 41).

> Gets to appoint Ministers and Deputy Ministers subjected to advice from the PM (Article
43).

> The legislative authority of the country is vested on the King and the two houses of
Parliament (Article 44).

> Shall appoint 40 members to the Senate (Article 45).

> He can remove the disqualification of a person as a member of any house of Parliament for
failing to lodge any return of election expen-ses or for having been convicted of an offence in
court and sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than one year or to a fine of not less
than RM2,000 and has not received a free pardon (Article 48).

> He shall not allow six months to elapse between the last sitting of Parliament in one session
and the date appointed for its first meeting in the next session (Article 55).

> May address either the Senate and the House of Representatives or both jointly (Article
60).

> Shall appoint the Senate Clerk and the House of Representative Clerk (Article 65).

> Can reject any new laws or amendments to existing laws but if he still withholds
permission, it will automatically become law after 30 days from the initial submission to him
(Article 66).

> Can order the disposition of land in which the Federation has a vested interest subject to the
approval of both Houses of Parliament by a resolution (Article 87).

> After recommendations and consultations and upon his satisfaction, can proclaim that an
area falls under a national development plan with some exclusions for Sabah and Sarawak
(Article 92).

> Has the power to authorise the State Legislature to introduce laws as well as extend
legislative or executive powers of States except to repeal or amend a law unless specifically
authorised by the House of Representatives (Article 95).

> Compel the statement of accounts of the Federation to be laid before the Houses of
Parliament (Article 99).

> Gets to validate the PM’s nomination of an Auditor-General after consultations with the
other Sultans and the terms and conditions of service of the AG (Article 105, and 106). The
King gets the first copy of the Auditor-General’s report before they are exhibited in both
Houses (Article 107 and Article 112).

> Gives approval to any reviews of any state grants to Sabah and Sarawak subject to the
advice from the PM and the approval of the House of Representatives (Article 112).

> Gets to elect the Chairman, the deputy Chairman and five other members of the Elections
Commission, and they must enjoy public confidence subjected to approval from the
Conference of Rulers (Article 114).
> Gets to name where he wants to register the High Court in Peninsular Malaysia and the
High Court in Sabah and Sarawak. Same goes for the Court of Appeals and the Federal Court
(Article 121).

> The King gets to name four judges to the Federal Court, 10 judges to the Court of Appeals
and the High Court judges, subjected to recommendations from the Chief Justice and advice
from the PM (Article 122).

> The King can also remove/suspend/discipline judges (Article 125) with prior
recommendations from the PM, the CJ, the President of the Court of Appeal and Chief
Judges of the High Courts and a tribunal appointed by the King himself.

> May refer to the Federal Court any questions on the provisions of the Constitution for its
opinion (Article 130).

> The King gets to appoint the Chief of Defence Forces, two senior Army staff officers, one
senior Navy staff officer, one senior Air Force staff officer plus an additional two more
(civilian or military) people to the Armed Forces Council (Article 137) of which he heads.

>There are similar provisions for the Judicial and Legal Sevice Commission (Article 138),
the Public Services Commission (Article 139), the Police Force Commission (Article 140),
and the Education Service Commission (Article 141). All of the above commissions must
first show the King their annual reports (Article 146).

> Appoints the Attonery-General on the advice of the PM (Article 145).

> May proclaim a State of Emergency (and cannot be challenged in court – Article 151) and
any number of them at different times but cannot revoke it. He can when both the Houses are
not sitting during an Emergency, decree ordinances (Article 150).

> The King gets the responsibility of safeguarding the special position of the Malays and
natives of Sabah and Sarawak, and the legitimate interests of the other communities (Article
153).
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/06/01/Appointment-of-the-Agong/

THE Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah became the King for a
second time during his reign as Kedah Sultan by virtue of the rotation system. Under this
system, the royal designate to fill in the position is determined by the Conference of Rulers.

The appointment of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is wholly decided by the country’s Rulers,
and it is not stipulated by the Federal Constitution.

Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee chairman Syahredzan Johansaid the Federal

Constitution’s only mention of the appointment of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was that he
must be chosen by his brother Rulers.

“The rotation system was formulated based on the internal policies and understanding within
the Conference of Rulers,” he said during the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s installation.

Syahredzan has been quoted as saying the selection was done in accordance with the
stipulated order of names on the royal appointment list.

The Conference of Rulers, or Majlis Raja-Raja, was provided for under Article 38 of the
Federal Constitution to create a platform for the Sultans and Yang Di-Pertua Negris to meet,
confer and come to a consensus to select one of their peers to become King once every five
years.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2012/04/11/Tuanku-Abdul-Halim-installed-as-14th-
Yang-diPertuan-Agong/

http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2f2011%2f12%2f12%2flifefocus
%2f10037358&sec=lifefocus

leader of humility and integrity, who takes his responsibilities very seriously.

HISTORY will be made tomorrow. For the first time, a Sultan will be Yang di-Pertuan
Agong for the second time around. When Kedah Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam
Shah Al-Marhum Sultan Badlishah takes his seat on the throne, Tuanku will also be the
oldest ever Sultan to assume that mantle.

According to the commemorative book, Sultan Abdul Halim: A Royal Journey, to mark his
Golden Jubilee reign in Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim, 84, is renowned for his refined and
well-mannered disposition. He has been groomed from young on the importance of noble
values and a virtuous character grounded in religious principles, topped up by a well-rounded
education.

They have a strong sense of commitment and discipline. They know the people’s
expectations of them, and they lived up to it; they were role models. I learnt a very important
lesson from them − you are the sum of your behaviour and the way you manage and carry
yourself determines how people regard you, regardless of your position in life. I learnt rules
of politeness, courtesy, and consideration from a very early age.

How can Tunku Puteri best sum up Tuanku Sultan?

Tuanku Sultan is very committed to his responsibilities as Sultan and being in the leadership
role. It is that sense of fulfilling expectations which I think is important to him.

He understands the responsibilities of Monarchy within a Constitutional setting very well.

And he always tries to remain above bias and politics. He understands the separation of
powers and that duty is a very important thing. That you symbolise not just a government but
the whole country. And the whole country is made up of all races and opinions, cultures and
traditions.

As a constitutional ruler, he plays many roles. He’s automatically the head of religion, he’s
the field marshal, he’s chancellor to universities. Those roles and responsibilities have to be
met.

So Tuanku’s special contribution to the State is the stability he has brought it and the fact that
he has been Sultan for 53 years. I think it’s not just about the time spent but the quality of the
time spent.

Tuanku attends over 300 functions out of 365 days a year. His private secretary once counted
310 to 320 functions that Tuanku attended a few years ago. That’s a huge amount of effort.
He is a role model. I think in Kedah, people young or old, identify with him because they
have grown up with him in the background. So that is his special contribution.