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Conference Of Rulers Information

The rulers of the Malay states were, in the past, absolute monarchs who wielded legislative, executive and judicial powers. They ruled their states according to their own policies, assisted by the various categories of office bearers. At the time of the Melaka Sultanate, these officials were headed by the Bendahara (a position equivalent to a prime minister in modern times).
The conquest of Melaka by the Portuguese and the Dutch in 1511 and 1641 respectively did not change the traditional structure of the Malay Sultanate. In early 1874, the British interfered in the administration of the Malay Sultanate. The sultans remained the sovereign rulers of the states but were bound by treaty to accept the advice of a British Resident, Adviser or General Adviser.
To expand their political dominance over the Malay Sultanate (Terengganu was the last state to accept a British adviser in 1919), the British centralised their administrative power by forming the Federated Malay States (which consisted of Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang) in 1896 and subsequently establish a Federal Council in 1909, whose members consisted of four Malay rulers, chaired by the British High Commissioner.
Although the British acknowledged the sovereignty of the Malay Sultanate, the Malay rulers’ role was relegated to mere ceremonial duties relating to customs and religious matters.
Even though the present Conference of Rulers was formally established under the Constitution, the name of the Conference cannot be separated from the Malay Sultanate which served as the cornerstone of the monarchy system or institution in Malaysia. As such, the early history of the establishment of the Conference of Rulers should also begin with a quick look at the emergence of the present Malay Sultanate. It is important to look at the relationships among the royal families in Malaysia today, which had given rise to an environment that eventually led to the establishment of the Conference.
The emergence and status of the Malay Sultanate are linked to the Melaka Sultanate. Although not deemed the oldest sultanate, considering that the Kedah Sultanate was founded around the 13th century, the Melaka Sultanate played a significant role in establishing palace traditions and customs which were later inherited by subsequent sultanates. Moreover, the Melaka Sultanate also played a role in establishing and strengthening many of the present sultanates.
Of the nine existing sultanates, only the Perak Sultanate has a direct link to the Melaka Sultanate as it was established from the Melaka Sultanate before it fell to the Portuguese in 1511.
The Kedah Sultanate, which once enjoyed the protection of the Melaka Sultanate, possesses royal regalia including nobat instruments presented by the Melaka Sultanate. The Selangor Sultanate, although founded by the Bugis in the 18th century, was given recognition by the Perak Sultanate which had direct links to the rulers of Melaka. Other sultanates, such as Johor, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, emerged after the lineage of the Melaka Sultanate died out. Clearly, these sultanates had filled the void left by the Melaka Sultanate after it fell to the Portuguese and continued the legacy of the Melaka Sultanate. The same holds true for Negeri Sembilan where its rulers had originated from Sumatra. Thereafter, the British intervened in the Malay states, starting with the Pangkor Treaty in 1874 and ended with the British agreement with Johor in 1914.
The position of the Malay rulers as the sovereign rulers remained unchanged. This was the position of the rulers according to the law, even though in reality their independence or sovereignty might not have been absolute. This principle had been declared by several different court decisions, which might have differed from the position of the Malay rulers under the Malayan Union. Nevertheless, the rulers had to acquiesce to the demands and pressures exerted by the British. Although such pressures could be questioned in the court of law, the British had the power to compel the Malay rulers to abide by their directives.
With British intervention in the Malay states, a grouping similar to a federation was formed in 1895. The grouping was known as the Federated Malay States comprising the states of Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang. Four Malay rulers sat in the Federal Council whose function was to outline the policies implemented by legislation at the state level through the State Councils. The Malay rulers retained legislative power albeit with respect to the Constitution only. The British were the ones in charge of formulating and controlling all administrative policies and their implementation in the Federated Malay States. This was not what the rulers had bargained for when they signed the treaty with the British. As a result, conflicts occurred after the Pangkor Treaty, which ended with the banishment of Sultan Abdullah.

The Conference of Rulers was officially established in 1948, the year the Federation of Malaya was established. Prior to the era of the Malayan Union between 01.04.1946 and 31.01.1948, the nine Malay States and two Straits Settlements were under the administration of a British Governor. Singapore, also a Straits Settlement, was separated as a British Crown Colony. The Malayan Union was the successor to the British Military Administration. The British Military Administration (September 1945-April 1946) was the interim administration after the defeat of Japan, which invaded the country from late 1941 to September 1945.

Before that, between 1896 and 1941, the states in the peninsula were governed separately, i.e. five states comprising Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johor formed the Unfederated Malay States and four states comprising Pahang, Perak, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan formed the Federated Malay States. The three states of Penang, Melaka and Singapore formed the Straits Settlements.

The Federated Malay States organised the durbar, a forum jointly organised by the rulers and the British administrators that met from time to time. The durbar is the precursor to the present Conference of Rulers.

 
Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
Darjah KebesaranD.K.M., D.K.T., D.K.R., D.M.N., S.U.M.Z., S.S.M.T., S.P.M.T., D.K.,(Perlis), D.K.(Johor), D.K.M.B.(Brunei), D.K.(Perak), D.K.(Negeri Sembilan), D.K.(Kedah), D.K.(Kelantan), D.K.(Selangor), S.P.M.J., Commandeur de la Legion d'Honneur (France), The Most Auspicious Order of The Rajamitrabhorn (Thailand), Collar De La Orden Al Merito De Chile (Chile), Necklace of Independence (Qatar), Bintang Republik Indonesia ADIPURNA (Indonesia).
Tarikh/Tempat Keputeraan22 Januari 1962 di Bandar Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman
Naik Takhta/TabalTakhta: 15 Mei 1998 / 4 Mac 1999
Pendidikan1. Sekolah Rendah Sultan Sulaiman, Kuala Terengganu
2. Sekolah Menengah Sultan Sulaiman, Kuala Terengganu
3. Geelong Grammar di Melbourne, Australia (1980-1981)
4. International University - Europe, England (1988)
Kor.Kol Kehormat1. Kolonel Yang Di-Pertua Kor. Ordnans DiRaja
2. Kolonel Yang Di-Pertua Kor. Armor DiRaja
Canselor IPTA/IPTAUiTM
Yang di-Pertuan AgongKetigabelas (13.12.2006-12.12.2011)
Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong1. Kesebelas (26.04.1999-12.12.2001)
2. Keduabelas (13.12.2001-12.12.2006)
Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Ibni Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah
Darjah KebesaranD.K.(Terengganu), D.K., S.S.A.P.
Tarikh/Tempat Keputeraan
Tarikh Dilantik
Pendidikan
Canselor IPTA/IPTA

His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda The Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVI Al-Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhun Sultan Iskandar, D.K(Johor), D.K (Perak), D.K (Kelantan), D.K. (Perlis), D.K (Selangor), D.K (Negeri Sembilan), D.K (Terengganu), D.K.M.B. (Brunei), S.P.M.J, S.S.I.J, S.P.M.T, S.M.N, S.P.M.K, S.P.M.P, P.I.S. - (Acceded to the throne of Johor Darul Takzim on 23 January 2010)