The Queen's full style and title in Malay is Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong.
Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia literally means 'Under the dust of the Almighty', referring to how the Raja Permaisuri Agong's power and prestige is dust compared to God's power and the ruler and his consort are always subservient to God.
Seri Paduka Baginda refers to Seri as in a person. Paduka means victorious and the term Baginda is the Malay possessive pronoun for a royal in the third person.
Raja Permaisuri Agong in literal English is the "Supreme Queen". It is an archaic equivalent to Raja where the female is a Raja Permaisuri and "Agong" (or Agung in standard
Malay) means 'supreme'. The term Agong is not translated, as in the
Constitution of Malaysia. The Malay word permaisuri is derived from
Sanskrit परमेश्वरी (parameśvarī), 'supreme lady'.
Common English terms used in the media and by the general public include "Queen", "Supreme Queen" and "Paramount Consort". The very common term "Queen" has also been conveniently used by the media and the public, although incorrectly as it is not an official or legal title of the Raja Permaisuri Agong.[1]
In formal English correspondence, the Raja Permaisuri Agong was referred to as "Her Majesty The Raja Permaisuri Agong". In January 2024, this was changed to "Her Majesty The Queen of Malaysia".[2]
Formal address to the queen is taken seriously in Malaysia. There are two ways of addressing the Raja Permaisuri Agong:
The Raja Permaisuri Agong immediately follows her husband, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in the
Malaysian order of precedence.
Status, functions, and privileges
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is
elected (de facto rotated) every five years among the nine hereditary rulers of the
states of Malaysia. When a ruler is elected as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, his consort automatically becomes the Raja Permaisuri Agong. In effect, the holder of the title of Raja Permaisuri Agong changes every five years, though it could happen earlier due to the death or resignation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Like many spouses of heads of state, the Raja Permaisuri Agong has no stipulated role in the
Constitution of Malaysia. She accompanies the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to official functions and
state visits, as well as hosting visiting heads of state and their spouses. Article 34 of the Malaysian Constitution forbids the Raja Permaisuri Agong from holding any appointment, carrying any remuneration, or actively engaging in any commercial enterprise. The Raja Permaisuri Agong is, however, legally entitled to an annual payment which is included in the
Civil List of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.[3]
Previous holders of the title of Raja Permaisuri Agong whose husbands are deceased receive a pension from the Federal Government's Civil List. They also take precedence immediately after the reigning Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the current Raja Permaisuri Agong, the reigning
monarchs of royal states, and the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of non-royal states.
List of queens of Malaysia
The following consorts have served as Raja Permaisuri Agong:
[a]
1.^ Tuanku Abdul Halim was the first and only Yang di-Pertuan Agong to reign twice.[5] Sultanah Haminah was his second wife from 1975 to his death and reigned alongside him as Raja Permaisuri Agong XIV as Sultanah Bahiyah had died in 2003.
2.^ Sultan Muhammad V reigned without a
queen consort as his wife
Sultanah Nur Diana Petra was not proclaimed as Sultanah of Kelantan until 2022. Shortly before his abdication in January 2019, it was reported that Muhammad V had married
Oksana Voevodina, however the marriage was not officially acknowledged and Voevodina was not recognized as his consort.[6][7]
List of queens of Malaysia by age
Raja Permaisuri Tuanku Bainun is the eldest living former Raja Permaisuri Agong. She is currently the only nonagenarian in the list and only the second person to achieved this distinction after Tuanku Najihah.
Ages of the living Raja Permaisuri Agong as of 23:05, Friday, April 19, 2024 (
UTC).
The most-recently deceased Raja Permaisuri Agong is Tunku Ampuan Najihah of Negeri Sembilan at the age of 100 years and 6 days on the 8th of September 2023. She was the 10th Raja Permaisuri Agong (1994–1999), her husband was Tuanku Ja'afar (19 July 1922 – 27 December 2008), the 10th Yang di Pertuan Agong (1994–1999) and the
Yang Di-Pertuan BesarNegeri Sembilan (18 April 1967 – 27 December 2008).
^"Senarai Raja Permaisuri Agong". majlisraja-raja.gov.my. Pejabat Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja.
Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
^Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia (2003).
"Yang di-Pertuan Agong III". Malaysian Monarchy. Archived from
the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2006.