Travel Tips

We practise parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy with distinct separation of State powers; the Legislature (Parlimen Malaysia comprising elected MPs in the Dewan Rakyat/House of Representatives and senators in the Dewan Negara-the second Chamber), the Executive (the Government made up of MPs and Senators of our Federal Parliament) and an independent Judiciary. Our parliament is situated in KL as are the Federal Court-apex court and the Court of Appeal, which are housed in the moorish looking Sultan Abdul Samad Building. The Executive branch is slowly being transferred to Putrajaya, the new administrative capital. KL (1971) & Putrajaya (2002) in West Malaysia and Labuan Island (1984) in East Malaysia were made federal territories in Malaysia on the indicated years.

Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong
(His Majesty The King, Supreme Head of Malaysia)

Our unique system of appointing a Head of State means that our King changes every five years as he is elected by the Conference of Rulers (made up of all the titular heads and the elected chief ministers/government leaders the 13 states and the PM representing the federal government) from among the 9 hereditary sultans of the 9 principalities in West Malaysia, on the advise of the Federal Government. The Office of HM the King is created by our Federal Constitution, a creature of law...HM the King has no substantive power, serves just a formal/ceremonial role and is the visible symbol of the soveriegnty of our country. He is not crowned, but, installed as the Supreme Head of Malaysia...more on how he is appointed below...

The four states with no hereditary rulers, including Penang have HM the King as Head of State represented by the Office of the State Governor. Yellow is the royal colour ever since the Ming Emperor of China in the 16th c. gave a yellow robe to the then sultan of the ancient empire of Melaka (covering part of Indonesia) (before the Protugese, the Dutch, and then the British came), thus recognising the supremacy and regal status of the sultan.

Our Parliament is based on that of Westminster's; it's bicameral with the Dewan Rakyat filled up by elected MPs every 5 years and the Dewan Negara made of of appointed Senators with a three-year term limit, A Senator may be re-appointed for a second, but, final three-year term.

Info from www.monarchymalaysia.org,my:

The office of the King is not hereditary. Malaysia practices a system of government based on Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy at two levels, Federal and State levels. At the Federal level the head of State is the King and the head of government is the Prime Minister. At the state level the head (Ruler) of State is either the Sultan, Raja, or Yang di-Pertuan Besar, and the Yang di-Pertua Negeri is the head of State where there are no Rulers: the Chief Ministers (Menteri Besar/Ketua Menteri) are the heads of government.

CONFERENCE OF RULERS

In accordance with the Malaysian Constitution, the power to elect and appoint the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is vested with the Conference of Rulers. In the federation system of government (as practiced in Malaysia) where a number of state Rulers are involved, a council known as the Conference of Rulers, was instituted under Article 38 of the Federal Constitution to serve as a forum for the Rulers and Governors (Yang Dipertua Negeri) to meet and deliberate. On certain matters the Federal Constitution provides that the government seek advice from the Conference of Rulers.

GOVERNMENT’S ADVICE

The monarchy is seen as a symbol of power, authority, and government. It is embodiment of strength, protection and justice for the people and personifies their love and loyalty towards the country. In countries which practice parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, the power of the people is conveyed through Parliament which in turn delegates its executive power to the Cabinet. In Malaysia, 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.

TENGKOLOK DI-RAJA (THE ROYAL HEAD-DRESS): For centuries Malay Rulers have worn head-dresses as part of their regalia. They have been wearing head-dresses made of embroidered silk folded in different styles since the days of the Malay Sultanate. The style of folding is called solek. The colour of the head-dress varies from one state to another. There are various styles of folding among which are: ANAK GAJAH MENYUSU, LANG MENYUSUR ANGIN, GARAM SEBUKU (GETAM PEKASAM), PUCUK PISANG PATAH, AYAM PATAH KEPAK and DENDAM TAK SUDAH. The royal head-dress worn by His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong during his installation is made of black fabric embroidered with gold thread. It is folded in the style called Dendam Tak Sudah which originated from Negeri Sembilan. Pinned at the front of the head-dress is a crescent and a star. In the centre of the star is the colorful crest of the Government of Malaysia.

The Gandik Diraja or Royal Tiara is the head-dress of Her Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong. It is made of platinum and encrusted with diamonds in the traditional 'awan larat' motif. A crescent and a star made of platinum are set in the centre of the tiara. The tiara is worn by Her Majesty on royal ceremonial occasions and during the installation of His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The tiara is specially designed so that it can be taken apart to form a locket and brooches (so can the Royal Necklace, which you can find out about if you go to the said webpage).

The most revelated item in the Malay royal regalia is the keris. The Keris Panjang Diraja (Royal Long Keris) is the most important symbol of authority during installation ceremonies. The Keris Panjang Diraja is the Keris of the Government symbolising power and authority. Both its hilt and sheath are covered with gold. The crosspiece of the keris is engraved with the crest of the Federal Government and that of the eleven states of Peninsula Malaysia. Its blade was forged from steel taken from eleven keris from the eleven states. The hilt of the keris is in the form of a horse’s hoof with decorations resembling the 'jering' fruit. This keris is worn by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on certain occasions only.

The keris is a Malay dagger (long or short) and is used by sultans of old in the Malay Archipelago (South East Asia) as symbols of authority.

The Cogan Alam or Sceptre of the World is part of the royal regalia symbolizing the royal authority of the Government of Malaysia. The Scepter of the World is made of silver measuring 162.66 cm, which is equivalent to five feet four inches. At the head of the scepter is an orb surmounted by a crescent and a star made of gold. The crests of the eleven states fabricated from gold decorate the orb. The orb is supported by four upright tigers whilst the shaft is decorated with six ears of paddy made of gold.

The word 'nobat' originated from the Persian word 'naubat' which means nine types of instruments. The Nobat is the royal orchestra which has been used for centuries in the Malay States especially during installation ceremonies. Among the musical instruments of the Nobat are the Gendang (drum), Nafiri (long clarinet), Serunai (flute) and a Gong. The Malay States which have a Nobat are:

* PERAK
* KEDAH
* SELANGOR
* TERENGGANU

from www.parlimen.gov.my

A view of Parliament House, part of the sprawling 99-acre Lake Gardens in KL, where you can also find the National Museum, the National Monument, the lake?

The Parliament houses the offices of all MPs and Senators with the chambers for parliamentary seatings as well.

The Sultan Abdul Samad Building where the Federal Court and the Court of Appeal are housed. Designed by the British architect A.C. Norman in the moorish-style, combining Indo-Gothic and Western elements (it actually complemented the look of the area together with the near-by moorish domes of KL Railway Station), it fronts Merdeka Square where the Union flag was lowered and the new National flag was raised at midnight on 31 August 1957 to mark the independence of the Federation of Malaya.

Built in 1897 or thereabouts, it used to be the seat of colonial government (the British High Commissioner for Malaya and South East Asia), and thereafter the Selangor State Secretariat.

Across the road is the cricket green or the Royal Selangor Club Padang (field) with the Tudor style Royal Selangor Club facing opposite and the Anglican Cathedral of St Mary the Virgin at the far right and the Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial Library on the left of the square (YM Tunku was Malaysia's beloved 1st Prime Minister).