Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
passed away 21st November 2001 Wednesday at 11.57am.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
passed away 21st November 2001 Wednesday at 11.57am.
The official announcement was made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad in a televised address to the nation.
Dr Mahathir also announced a seven-day mourning period and a public holiday has been declared for Thursday to enable the people to pay their last respects during the lying-in-state at Istana Negara.
He also directed that flags be flown halfmast. All official functions slated for today and tomorrow have been cancelled as a mark of respect.
Background
The following information is taken from the Information Department website of the Ministry of Information.
His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong XI, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah, was born on March 8, 1926 at Istana Bandar, Kuala Langat.
Sultan Salahuddin was crowned the 11th Yang diPertuan Agong on Sept 23, 1999.
His Majesty received his early education at Pangkalan Batu Malay School I, Kelang in 1934, before pursuing his studies at the Malay College in Kuala Kangsar till December 1941 when the Second World War broke out. In 1947, His Majesty continued his studies at the School of Oriental Studies, University of London for two years.
On returning to the country, His Majesty served in the Public Services Department as a trainee officer with the Selangor Survey Department. Later His Majesty was appointed as Inspector of School for eight years.
In 1952, after completing a six-month course with the Malay Regiment at Port Dickson, His Majesty was commissioned a “Queen Commission” with rank of Captain. Later, His Majesty was promoted to a Major.
His Majesty was appointed Tengku Laksamana Selangor on August 1, 1946. Four years later, on May 13, 1950 he was appointed the Regent of Selangor. Following the demise of late the Sultan Hishamuddin Alam Shah Alhaj on September 1, 1960, His Majesty was appointed the Sultan of Selangor on September 3, 1960. His Majesty was installed as the Sultan on June 28, 1961.
On April 26, 1984, His Majesty was honoured by the Malaysian Armed Forces by appointing him as the Honorary Captain of the Royal Malaysian Navy, replacing his earlier rank as the Supreme Colonel of the Royal Malaysian Air Force which he held since 1966.
His Majesty married Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Siti Aishah on May 3, 1990. From His Majesty's previous marrige, His Majesty was blessed with four princes and six princesses.
His Majesty was an avid lover of sports. He was a well-known golfer in Malaysia and in also the international arena. His Majesty also loved sailing, collecting vintage cars, rearing animals as pets and growing orchids. His Majesty also loved to travel overseas to broaden his knowledge and experience.
Election of the King
The office of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is not a hereditary one. The Federal Constitution provides that the office is based on a rotation system amongst the nine Rulers for a five-year period.
The Third Schedule of the Federal Constitution provides for the order in which the nine Rulers are entitled to be elected as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
It provides that for the election of the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the order of precedence, amongst the nine Rulers at the time when the nation secured its independence (based on the length of time the Rulers had reigned in their States), would be adhered to.
For subsequent elections, the list of States is modified, whereby the name of the State, whose Ruler has completed his term of office as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, is omitted from the said list.
Furthermore, if there be any change in the Ruler of a State which is then on the list or where a particular Ruler has declined to accept office, the State in either of these situations will be transferred to the end of the list.
In other words, the list as originally constituted in 1957 has to be complied with, except for modifications to be the list to accommodate changes in cases where a new Ruler has been appointed in any one of the States or where a particular Ruler has declined to accept the office.
Through this process the Constitution ensures that every Ruler of the nine States will be appointed as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.