Malaysia And Malayan Tiger @ Harimau Malaya

Malayan Tiger or Harimau Malaya

The Malayan Tiger @ Harimau Malaya Symbol of Bravery, Strength and Grandeur. The Malayan Tiger @ Harimau Malaya (panthera tigris malayensis) was a symbol of bravery, strength and grandeur in then Malaya, and was always closely associated with the country. This was when vast jungles and rain-forests covered the still uncut and undeveloped geographical terrains of the country, and when animals roam freely without fear of humans.

It is found only in Peninsular Malaysia, not in Sabah or Sarawak. The Malayan Tiger @ Harimau Malaya  is smaller than the Indo-chinese sub-specie, and closer in size to the Sumatran tiger (panthera tigris sumatrea). The average weight for adult males is 120kg and for females is 100kg. The average length (from head to tail) of males is 237cm while females is 200cm.

Until 2004, when research findings identified it as a different endemic sub-specie, it was previously categorised together with the Indochina tiger (panthera tigris corbetti). It is also known scientifically as panthera tigris jacksoni. Ubiquitous Spirit of the Tiger. The Malayan Tiger @ Harimau Malaya is a ubiquitous national icon -- it is everywhere. As a symbol of bravery, charm and regality, it is deservedly honored and depicted in the Coat of Arms of Malaysia, the nation.

History Behind The Malaysian Monarchy.

History behind the Malaysian monarchy

MALAYSIA practises a government system based on constitutional malaysian monarchy and parliamentary democracy at two levels: federal and state.

At the federal level, the head of state is the King and the head of government is the Prime Minister.

At the state level, the head (ruler) of state is either the Sultan, Raja or Yang di-Pertuan Besar, and the Yang di-Pertua Negeri is the head of state where there are no rulers. Chief Ministers (Mentri Besar/Ketua Mentri) are the heads of government.

Malaysia does not have an absolute monarchy, although it has a King as the head of state.

The office of the King is not hereditary and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong can come from any of the nine rulers from the Malay States.

Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the country’s first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, suggested the rotation system, borrowing the idea from Negri Sembilan, where the chiefs from all nine regions historically took turns to be the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

The power to elect and appoint the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is vested with the Conference of Rulers in accordance with the Federal Constitution and the rules of the Conference of Rulers.

The Constitution Says..

14th Malaysia's King - Credit picture to Ammboi 

WHO becomes the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is determined by the rotation list decided by the Conference of Rulers and is not stipulated under the Federal Constitution. This means that the Sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, will have risen to the top of the rotation list twice in order for him to be appointed Yang di-Pertuan Agong again.

Besides being the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim was also the country's fifth King. Bar Council Constitutional Law Committeechairman Syahredzan Johan said although it was up to the rulers whom they wanted to elect as King, selection was actually done by way of rotation as well as in accordance with the order of names on the list. The list, he said, was initiated after the country's independence in 1957.

“The rotation system was formulated based on the internal policies and understanding within the Conference of Rulers.” However, the Federal Constitution, Syahredzan added, did not state that the selection of the King was upon a rotation basis but merely mentioned for him to be chosen and elected by the other rulers.

The Conference of Rulers Majlis Raja-Raja was provided for under Article 38 of the Federal Constitution to create a platform for the Sultans and the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri to meet and confer. The first round of rotation was completed with the appointment of the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, as the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1989 to 1994.

The new list then came into effect with the appointment of Negri Sembilan Ruler Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar, whose father Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman was the country's first Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1957 to 1960, as the 10th King in 1994.

Constitutional expert Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi said that when the first rotation list was drawn up after 1957, the first name in the order was decided based upon the seniority of tenure as Sultan.

“But at that time, the most eligible and senior candidates had turned down the offer to become the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. So, the position was offered to the next most senior and eligible candidate,” said Dr Shad Saleem.

Under the first list, both the then Sultans of Johor and Pahang, who were the first and second most senior rulers in the order of names, had declined the appointment.

Once a Ruler had either been appointed as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or declined the post, his name would go down to the bottom of the list, explained both Dr Shad Saleem and Syahredzan.

“In the event a Ruler declines the office of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or is disqualified by his brother rulers, the Conference of Rulers will then decide upon and pick another candidate to fill the position,” added Dr Shad Saleem.

Under Article 32 of the Federal Constitution, a Yang di-Pertuan Agong can also be removed from office by his brother rulers.

There is also no prohibition against a Ruler from becoming King twice, as shown by the historic event of Tuanku Abdul Halim's ascent to the throne again.

Dr Shad Saleem said Tuanku Abdul Halim's election as the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong was the natural progression of the rotation system.

Monarchy System Made in Malaysia

A meeting of the Conference of Rulers held at Istana Negara on Nov 1. - Bernamapic

NO other country in the world other than Malaysia has more than two monarch families ruling at the same time as the head of state. It is also one of the few countries in the world that practise a true elective monarchy system, in which nine members from the Conference of Rulers elect the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The nine members are the hereditary Malay Rulers from the states of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Negri Sembilan, Perlis, Perak, Selangor and Terengganu. Cambodia where candidates of royal blood are chosen to be king for a life term by its Royal Council of the Throne, and Vatican City where the Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals, are the other true elective monarchies in the world.

The membership of the Conference of Rulers includes the four Yang di-Pertua Negeri or governors but only royal rulers are allowed to vote or stand for election as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

In accordance with the Federal Constitution and the rules of the Conference of Rulers, the power to appoint the King is vested with the Conference of Rulers. This is done to protect the prestige of the Malay rulers. The position is elected through a secret ballot by fellow monarchs.

The first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, had suggested the rotation system, under which the nine rulers would take turns to serve for five years as King, and would be called Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or Supreme Ruler.

The rotation system was an idea borrowed from Negri Sembilan, where chiefs from the state's nine regions took turns to be the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. During the election process, the nominee must have obtained a majority of five votes before the ruler presiding over the Election Meeting offers him the office of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

On taking office, the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong will appoint a regent for the duration of his five-year term over the state which he rules. A deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong is also elected at the same time and charged with holding office whenever the King is away or unable to rule.

According to the system of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the formal head of the executive branch. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong plays a vital role in the judiciary system by appointing the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Judge of Malaya, the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, judges of the Federal Court, the judges of the Court of Appeal and the judges of the High Courts on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Under Article 3 of the Federal Constitu-tion, the King is the Head of Islamic Affairs in Malacca, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak, which have a Yang di-Pertua Negeri. The current King, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin from Terengganu, is the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong since the country's Independence, and began his reign on Dec 13, 2006.

Source : The Star Online

New Malaysia National Palace Marks History

Majestic and spanking new, Istana Negara on Jalan Duta will be the venue for the swearing-in ceremony. Members of the Royal Malay Regiment First Battalion hoisted the personal flag of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Nov 15. – Bernamapic

THE majestic new Istana Negara on Jalan Duta will today bear witness to the swearing-in of the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The ceremony, which is steeped in the tradition of the Malay custom, will be held for the first time at the new palace. As the official residence of the country's Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong, the palace, which sits on a sprawling 97.65ha plot of land in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, is built in rich Islamic and traditional Malay architectural style.

The 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, who completes his term today, is the first monarch to occupy the new Istana that was officially opened on Nov 11.Among others, the palace has two large domes, which are adorned with light bulbs designed in the outline of an overlapping betel leaf that will illuminate the night with different colours. The colour of the lights will be according to the type of formal events held that day.

A 40m-high dome above the main lobby in the palace is hung with the largest chandelier made in Malaysia.Eight large paintings, depicting the history of the country from the Malacca Sultanate to the current era, decorate the giant pillars supporting the main dome.Every room and hall in the Istana is specially designed to accommodate specific functions.The palace complex, which boasts a total of 22 domes, is divided into formal, royal and administrative wings.

The formal wing houses, among others, the balairong seri, where the swearing-in of the King takes place, the audience and banquet halls.The royal wing, comprising bedrooms and other facilities, are designed for use by the Agong, his Queen and other members of the royal family.

The palace also comes equipped with a surau to accommodate 1,000 people, a swimming pool, a security office, a visitors' square, an underground carpark, a treatment room, a multi-purpose hall, a sports field, a helipad, and a horse stable.It will also have lifts and escalators.

The Istana is accessible via three gates the Duta Gate for the royalty, the Jalan Changkat Semantan Gate for guests and the Jalan Sri Hartamas Gate for the rakyat and for invited to events.

Malaysia Tourism Award 2010/2011

This award was won by http://www.cedeprudente.blogspot.com/ 

The Ministry of Tourism Malaysia are very optimist to bring the tourism industry to higher level by giving the tour operator a reward to boost their productivity to give good service to tourist. The Minister of Tourism Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen said, the award started to be gave since 1987 to increase the professionalisme of tour operator.

They have some category of reward such as, Best Tour Operator, International Tour Operator Innovation, The most Innovation Tourism Magazine, Best Tourist Guide, Most Innovation Shopping Mall, Most Innovation Spa, and the main award is Ministry Tourism Award.

The Ministry of Tourism receive more than 346 participation from all categories and the winner will get certificated and and trophy. The Tourism Award Night 2010/2011 will be held in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

For those who are interested to participate in Malaysia Tourism Award you may go to this link
http://www.motour.gov.my/bm/muat-turun/doc_download/554-malaysia-tourism-award-2010-2011-nomination-form.html 

Langkawi Intriguing Legends and Nature's Wonders

The Langkawi archipelago consists of 99 islands.

Langkawi situated in the Andaman Sea, south of Thailand. Tourist flock here for the delightful beaches, superb resort and refreshing nature-based activities. The best beaches include Pantai Cenang, Burau Bay, Pantai Kok and Pantai Datai. Accommodation ranges from world-class resorts such as the Four Season Resort, The Datai and The Andaman to affordable family chalets and facilities for budget travelers. Do visit www.mytourguidemalaysia.com for more information that will update frequently.

Royal Selangor Club, Jalan Raja

Royal Selangor Club, Jalan Raja

Adjancent to Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square) is the Royal Selangor Club, a charming mock-Tudor structure. Royal Selangor was founded in 1884 as a small plank building with thatched rood, serving as a social cricket clib for the growing expatriate community. The original Royal Selangor Club building was replaced in 1890 by two-storey timber structure designed by AC Norman, a government architect. Royal Selangor Club rebuilt in 1910 with a design similar to a mock-Tudor house by architect AB Hubback.

Royal Selangor Club During Colonial Days

During colonial days, Royal Selangor Club was dubbed 'The Spotted Dog', a nickname purportedly originating from the Police Commissioner's black and white dalmations, often brought there by his wife. The name also said to have originated from its mixed membership at that time. Royal Selangor was again rebuilt to its present for in 1979. Royal Selangor  is exclusively for members and has a wide range of sporting facilities as well as food and beverage outlets.

Pictures of Royal Selangor Club

When you visit Dataran Merdeka, Sultan Abdul Samad Building you can see from there the building name Royal Selangor Club. 

Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square)

Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square) Located at Jalan Raja

This is a good starting point to explore Kuala Lumpur city's heritage site. On 31st August 1957, the Union Jack was lowered here to mark Malaysia's independent from colonial rule. Hence the name, Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square) which means 'Independent Square'.

History of Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square) 

The Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square) used to be venue for parades, cricket matches, and other important occacions. Today, this historic heart of Kuala Lumpur is preserved with beautifully manicured lawns, terraces and fountains. It is the ideal backdrop for photography. Adjacent to Dataran Merdeka is te Royal Selagor Club, a mock-Tudor structure with an interesting history. 

Pictures of Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square)

Wanted to explore this place ? Why not you use a experience tour guide to bring you to Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square) ?