The Constitution of Malaysia is very clear about the election to the Malaysian throne. References can be found in articles 32 and 33, and in the Third Schedule of the Constitution.

The original list of Kings from 1957 to 1994, has created a new "reconstituted list" starting with Negeri Sembilan and ending with Perak. The reconstituted list started in April 1994 when the present Yang DiPertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan became King. The late King, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, was next on the list and became King in 1999. The next ruler on the list is the Raja of Perlis. It does not matter that his late father, Raja Tuanku Syed Putra, was alive in 1999 and declined election as Timbalan Agong.

Newspapers have been saying that the Deputy Agong automatically becomes Agong. That is not true. It has happened in the past only because they were the highest on the original list who were also willing to be King.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, as a Prince, was very clear in the formulation of the election of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong when he agreed the on the Constitution. Succession to the throne is always a sensitive issue, in any country, and the clearer it is, the better.