The Malay titles reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Malay titles

The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which is still extensively used in Malaysia and Brunei. Indonesia, while being a Republic, recognizes several hereditary rulers and aristocratic titles, eg. the late wife of former President Soeharto was the Raden Ayu Tien, not as some say, Mrs. Soeharto. Singapore, which never had its own royalty, has adopted civil titles for its leaders.

All titles can be granted to both men and women. It is worth noting that there are special terms for the wife of a man with a title, but none for the husband of a titled woman.

Table of contents

1 Royalty 2 Orders of Chivalry 2.1 Federal titles 2.2 State titles 3 Honorary Styles 4 Other Titles 5 External Link

Royalty

The following titles are hereditary and reserved for the royal families of Brunei and the 9 royal states of Malaysia.

• Yang di-Pertuan Agong ("Supreme Head") is the official title of the ruler of all Malaysia, elected from among the 9 sultans of the royal families. The title is often glossed King in English.
• Yang di-Pertuan Negara ("Head of State") is the official title of the Sultan of Brunei. The title was also used in Singapore until its independence in 1965, upon which the title became President.
• Yang di-Pertuan Besar ("Great Head") is the official title of the Ruler of Negeri Sembilan. All other Rulers are Sultans except the Raja of Perlis.
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri is not a royal title, but the title of a Governor of a state which does not have a native Ruler.
• Tuanku is both a title when used before a name and form of address when used alone, and is reserved for the Malay Rulers. It literally means "My Lord", and as a form of address can be glossed as "Your Majesty" or "Your Highness, but is left untranslated when used as a title.
• Tengku (also spelled Tunku) is roughly equivalent to Prince.

The following styles often precede the royal title on formal notices:

• Duli Yang Maha Mulia is used for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and state Rulers alike, however in English the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is "His Majesty" and a state Ruler is "His Highness" (now sometimes "His Royal Highness"). It is not used as a form of address - instead Tuanku is used.
• Yang Teramat Mulia, Yang Mulia etc. are used for Tengkus.

Orders of Chivalry

The following titles can be granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Ruler or Governor of each state. They are honorary and non-hereditary.

Federal titles

• Tun is the highest non-royal title and is limited to 22 holders at any one time. The wife of a Tun is Toh Puan. The latest recipient is former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
• Tan Sri is the second highest title. The wife of a Tan Sri is Puan Sri.

State titles

• Dato' Seri or Dato' Paduka is the highest state title, but ranks below the federal titles above. The wife of a Dato' Seri is a Datin Seri.
• Dato' (also Datuk) is the most common chivalrous title. The wife of a Dato' is a Datin. There are also Dato's whose titles are conferred by the federal government.

Honorary Styles

The following are both used as styles, before a person's title, and (by themselves) as forms of address:

• Tuan Yang Terutama (T.Y.T.) is the style of a state Governor, equivalent to "Your/His Excellency".
• Yang Amat Berhormat (Y.A.B.) is the style of the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers of the states.
• Yang Berhormat (Y.B.) is the style of Members of Parliament and state Legislative Assemblymen.
• Yang Amat Arif (Y.A.A.) is the style of the Chief Justice of Malaysia.
• Yang Arif (Y.A.) is the style of a judge.
• Yang Berbahagia (Y.Bhg.) (and variants thereof) are the styles of persons with a chivalrous title.

The English versions of these styles follow British usage. Thus the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers, Senators, state Executive Councillors and judges of the High Court and above are styled the Honourable. It is a solecism to style the Prime Minister or a Chief Minister Right Honourable as they are not members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.

Other Titles

• Syed is the title of men who can trace direct blood descent from the Prophet. Female descendants are known as Sharifah.
• Haji (or Hajah) can be used by people who have completed the Hajj.
• Tuan is equivalent to Master. Due to its feudal overtones, this term is largely obsolete, although the title can still be prepended to Syed and Haji.
• Encik is equivalent to Mr.
• Puan is equivalent to Mrs.
• Cik is equivalent to Miss.

External Link

• Correct Forms of Address in Malaysian Protocol

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