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Yang di-Pertuan Negara (English: (he) who is Lord of the State) is a title for the head of state in certain Malay-speaking countries, and has been used as an official title at various times in Brunei and Singapore.
The head of state of Sabah was once known as Yang Di-Pertua Negara and later known as Yang Di-Pertua Negeri.[1]
The head of state of Sarawak was once known as Yang Di-Pertua Negara and later known as Yang Di-Pertua Negeri.[1]
Background
Following revisions to the Constitution in 1959, which granted Singapore self-governance from the United Kingdom, the ceremonial office of Yang di-Pertuan Negara replaced the colonial office of Governor as the representative of the British monarch in Singapore, though the term 'governor' was also commonly used to refer to the office bearer.
Although the Yang di-Pertuan Negara was the title for the head of state, constitutionally he is only a de jure chief executive, acting as a vice-regal representative in lieu of a typical Governor-General.[2]
Under a transitional arrangement, the last governor of Singapore, Sir William Goode, served as the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara from 3 June 1959 to 3 December 1959.[3] He was succeeded by Yusof Ishak, who was sworn into office on the same day as the country's state flag, coat of arms, and national anthem were adopted.
The title was retained on 31 August 1963 when Singapore declared independence from the United Kingdom and accession to Malaysia as a state on 16 September 1963 (not to be confused with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah). The officeholder then acted as the vice-regal representative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.[2]
On 9 August 1965, Singapore was separated from the federation to become an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations. On 22 December of that year, the Constitution was amended to make the country a republic, and the title of Yang di-Pertuan Negara was changed to President with retroactive effect from the date of independence.[4]
List of officeholders
| № | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) |
Term of Office | Origin | Background or Previous Appointment |
Monarch | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took Office | Left Office | Duration | |||||||
| 1 |  | Sir William Goode (1907–1986) | 3 June 1959 | 2 December 1959 | 5 months | Middlesex, England | Chief Secretary of Singapore, Governor of Singapore | _(cropped)_(3-to-4_aspect_ratio).jpg)
|
[5][6] |
| 2 | Yusof Ishak (1910–1970) | 3 December 1959 | 9 August 1965 | 3 years, 9 months | Taiping, Perak | Chairman of the Public Service Commission of Singapore |
Elizabeth II |
[7][8] | |
In Brunei, the Sultan of Brunei is also known as the Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam.
The full title for the head of state and head of government of Brunei is Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam.[9]
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