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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) is the title given to the consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the elected, constitutional head of state of Malaysia.
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There is currently no Raja Permaisuri Agong, as the current and 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan, is divorced.
Terminology and precedence
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". The Malay word permaisuri is derived from Tamil பரமேஸ்வரி (paramēsvari), 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.
Status, functions, and privileges
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.
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.
List of Raja Permaisuri Agong
The following consorts have served as Raja Permaisuri Agong:
1.^ Tuanku Abdul Halim is the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong to reign twice. Sultanah Haminah has been his second wife since 1975.