Constitution of Malaysia

PART IV - THE FEDERATION

Chapter 1 - The Supreme Head

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(1) There shall be a Supreme Head of the Federation, to be called the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who shall take precedence over all persons in the Federation and shall not be liable to any proceedings whatsoever in any court.

(2) The Consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (to be called the Raja Permaisuri Agong) shall take precedence next after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong over all other persons in the Federation.

(3) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall be elected by the Conference of Rulers for a term of five years, but may at any time resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Conference of Rulers or be removed from office by the Conference of Rulers, and shall cease to hold office on ceasing to be a Ruler.

(4) The provisions of Part l and lll of the Third Schedule shall apply to the election and removal of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

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(1) There shall be a Deputy Supreme Head of the Federation (to be called the Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong) who shall exercise the functions and have the privileges of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during any vacancy in the office of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and during any period during which the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is unable to exercise the functions of his office owing to illness, absence from the Federation or for any other cause, but the Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall not exercise those functions during any inability or absence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong which is expected to be less than fifteen days, unless the Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient to exercise such functions.

(2) The Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall be elected by the Conference of Rulers for a term of five years, or if elected during the term for which the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was elected, for the remainder of that term, but may at any time resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Conference of Rulers and shall cease to hold office on ceasing to be a Ruler.

(3) If during the term for which the Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong was elected a vacancy occurs in the office of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong his term shall expire on the cessation of the vacancy.

(4) the provisions of Part ll of the Third Schedule shall apply to the election of the Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

(5) Parliament may by law provide for the exercise by a Ruler of the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in cases where those functions would under Clause (1) fall to be exercised owing to a vacancy in the office of the Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong or to his illness, absence from the Federation or to any other cause; but such a law shall not be passed without the consent of Conference of Rulers.

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(1) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall not exercise his functions as Ruler of his State except those Head of the religion of Islam.

(2) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall not hold any appointment carrying any remuneration.

(3) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall not actively engage in any commercial enterprise.

(4) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall not receive any emoluments of any kind payable or accruing to as the Ruler of his State under the provisions of the Constitution of that State or of any State law.

(5) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall not, without the consent of the Conference of Rulers, be absent from the Federation for more than fifteen days, except on a State visit to another country.

(6) Clauses (2) and (3) shall apply to the Raja Permaisuri Agong.

(7) Where the Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong or any other person authorised by law exercises the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for a period exceeding fifteen days Clause (1) to (5) shall apply to him during that period as they apply to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

(8) Nothing in Clause (1) shall prevent the Yang di-Pertuan Agong exercising as Ruler of his State any power vested in him either alone or in conjunction with any other authority -

(a) to amend the Constitution of the State; or

(b) to appoint a Regent or member of a Council of Regency in the place of any Regent or member, as the case may be, who has died or has become incapable for any reason of performing the duties of the office of Regent or member of the Council of Regency..... respectively.

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(1) Parliament shall by law provide a Civil List of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong which shall include provision of an annuity to be paid to the Raja Permaisuri Agong, and shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund and shall not be diminished during the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's continuance in office.

(2) Parliament shall by law make provision for the renumeration of the Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong or any other person authorized by law to exercise the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during any period during which he exercises those functions and the renumeration for which provision is made in pursuance of this Clause shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund.

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The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall keep and use the Public Seal of the Federation.

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(1) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall before exercising his functions take and subscribe before the Conference of Rulers and in the presence of the Lord President of the Supreme Court (or in his absence the next senior judge of the Supreme Court available) the oath of office set out in Part 1 of the Fourth Schedule; and the oath shall be attested by two persons appointed for the purpose by the Conference of Rulers.

(2) The Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall before exercising his functions, other than the functions exercisable for the purpose of convening the Conference of Rulers, take and subscribe before the Conference of Rulers and in the presence of the Lord President of the Supreme Court (or in his absence the next senior judge of the Supreme Court available) the oath of office set out in Part 11 of the Fourth Schedule.

(3) The said oaths, translated into English, are set out in Part 11 of the Fourth Schedule.

(4) Any law made under Article 33 (5) shall make provision corresponding (with the necessary modifications) to Clause (2).