Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia | |
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راج ڤرمايسوري اݢوڠ | |
Federal | |
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Incumbent | |
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Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah since 31 January 2019 | |
Details | |
Style | Her Majesty |
First monarch | Tunku Puan Besar Hajah Kurshiah |
Formation | 31 August 1957 |
Residence | Istana Negara, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim as official residence |
Website | Keeper of the Rulers' Seal Office |
Raja Permaisuri Agong (Jawi: راج ڤرمايسوري اݢوڠ; full title: Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong; سري ڤدوک بݢيندا راج ڤرمايسوري اݢوڠ, literally The Queen of Malaysia) is the title given to the consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the elected, constitutional federal monarch of Malaysia.
The 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 and never above and beyond God.
Seri Paduka Baginda refers to Seri as in a person. Paduka means victorious and the term Baginda is in Malay for a royal in the third person.
Raja Permaisuri Agong in literal English is "The Supreme Lady 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.
Common English terms used in the media and by the general public include "Queen", "Supreme Queen" and "Paramount Consort".
As the title "Yang di-Pertuan Agong" is commonly glossed as "King" in English, the title "Raja Permaisuri Agong" is commonly translated to "Queen", and in English the bearer is thus referred to as "Her Majesty" and addressed as "Your Majesty".[1] The Malay word permaisuri is derived from Sanskrit परमेश्वरी (parameśvarī), 'supreme lady'.
The Raja Permaisuri Agong immediately follows her husband, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in the Malaysian order of precedence.
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.[2]
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.
The following consorts have served as Raja Permaisuri Agong: [a]
Tunku Najihah is the eldest living former Raja Permaisuri Agong and she also holds the distinction as the longest lived Raja Permaisuri Agong since 22 May 2011 when she surpassed the age of Tunku Kurshiah who died on 2 February 1999 at the age of 87 years and 262 days.
Ages of the living Raja Permaisuri Agong as of 21:41, Wednesday, August 2, 2023 (UTC). |
Rank | Name | State | Birth | Death | Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tunku Najihah | ![]() |
1 Sep 1923 | Alive | 99 years, 335 days |
2 | Tuanku Bainun | ![]() |
7 Nov 1932[7] | Alive | 90 years, 268 days |
3 | Tunku Kurshiah | ![]() |
16 May 1911[8] | 2 Feb 1999[9] | 87 years, 262 days |
4 | Tengku Intan Zaharah | ![]() |
13 Apr 1928[10] | 24 Jan 2015[11] | 86 years, 286 days |
5 | Tengku Budriah | ![]() |
28 Mar 1924[12] | 28 Nov 2008[13] | 83 years, 274 days |
6 | Tengku Zanariah | ![]() |
5 Jul 1940[14] | 17 Mar 2019[15] | 78 years, 255 days |
7 | Tengku Fauziah | ![]() |
6 Jun 1946[16] | Alive | 77 years, 57 days |
8 | Tengku Zainab | ![]() |
7 Aug 1917[17] | 10 Jan 1993[17] | 75 years, 156 days |
9 | Tunku Bahiyah | ![]() |
24 Aug 1930[18] | 26 Aug 2003[citation needed] | 73 years, 5 days |
10 | Raja Jema'ah | ![]() |
1900[19] | 8 Apr 1973[20] | 72 years, 361 days to 73 years, 7 days |
11 | Tuanku Hajah Haminah | ![]() |
15 Jul 1953[21] | Alive | 72 years, 361 days to 73 years, 7 days |
12 | Tunku Azizah Aminah | ![]() |
5 Aug 1960[22] | Alive | 62 years, 362 days |
13 | Tengku Hajjah Afzan | ![]() |
4 Dec 1933[23] | 28 Jun 1988[24] | 54 years, 206 days |
14 | Tuanku Siti Aishah | ![]() |
18 Nov 1971[25] | Alive | 51 years, 257 days |
15 | Tuanku Nur Zahirah | ![]() |
7 Dec 1973[26] | Alive | 49 years, 268 days |
The most-recently deceased Raja Permaisuri Agong is Tunku Zanariah of Johor at the age of 78 years and 255 days on 17 March 2019. She was the 8th Raja Permaisuri Agong (1984–1989), her husband was Sultan Iskandar (8 April 1932 – 22 January 2010), the 8th Yang di Pertuan Agong (1984–1989) and Sultan of
Johor (11 May 1981 – 22 January 2010).