When is the King's Birthday in Malaysia?
This national holiday celebrates the birthday of Yang Di Pertuan Agong, the King and head of state of Malaysia.
The date of this holiday is ceremonial and may change depending on the birthday of the current King. In 2017, the date was changed from the first Saturday in June to the last Saturday in July following the installation of His Majesty the 15th Yang Di Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V.
In 2017, a further amendment changed the date to September 9th 2017. Though not stated, this change looked like it meant observation on September 9th would stay in place during the reign of Sultan Muhammad V.
In 2019, the holiday remained on September 9th. In 2020, it was to be observed on the first Saturday in June, June 6th; however, in March 2020, it was announced that the holiday would move to Monday June 8th 2020 and that it will be henceforth be observed on the first Monday in June.
The 263rd (Special) Council of Rulers meeting took place at Istana Negara on October 27th 2023 and unanimously declared the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong for a period of the next five years, as it has been practised so far.
Traditions of the King's Birthday in Malaysia
Events include a ceremonial Trooping of the Colours and a rousing performance by a military band. This ceremony symbolises the Malaysian Armed Forces' pledge of loyalty to His Majesty the King of Malaysia.
The Malaysian King is one of the few elected monarchs in the world. Since 1993, the full title in Malay has been, Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is called the Raja Permaisuri Agong. They are referred to in English as "His Majesty" and "Her Majesty".
The official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is Istana Negara (the 'National Palace') located in Jalan Syed Putra in the federal capital Kuala Lumpur. There are also other residences, such as Istana Melawati in the federal administrative capital Putrajaya which is the royal retreat or 'istana hinggap' for Yang di-Pertuan Agong and his family, as well as being the venue of meetings of the Conference of Rulers (Malay: Majlis Raja-raja), which elects the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The role of the King is largely ceremonial in Malaysia's constitutional monarchy. The constitution specifies that executive power, theoretically vested in the head of state, is exercised by (or on the advice of) the Cabinet which is headed by the Prime Minister, who is responsible to Parliament.
Malaysians celebrate His Majesty the King of Malaysia's birthday with a series of events and ceremonies in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
On January 24th 2019, the Conference of Rulers elected Sultan Abdullah as the sixteenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia to replace Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan who had abdicated weeks earlier due to ill health. Sultan Abdullah's birthday is July 30th.
This public holiday is listed under gazetted compulsory public holidays for employees under Section 60D (1)(a)(ii) of the Employment Act 1955 (Act 265). It cannot be replaced with another day and employees who are instructed to work on this date will have to be paid a public holiday rate in line with provisions under Act 265.
