Datuk

The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which is still extensively used in Malaysia and Brunei. Indonesia, while being a Republic, recognizes several hereditary rulers and aristocratic titles, eg. the late wife of former President Soeharto was the Raden Ayu Tien, not as some say, Mrs. Soeharto. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders. The island republic, interestingly, still pays annual stipends to descendants of its last Sultan.

All titles can be granted to both men and women. It is worth noting that there are special terms for the wife of a man with a title, but none for the husband of a titled woman.

Royalty

The following titles are hereditary and reserved for the royal families of Brunei and the nine royal states of Malaysia.

• Yang di-Pertuan Agong (literally, "He who is made Supreme Lord" but usually "Supreme Head" or "Paramount Ruler") is the official title of the ruler of all Malaysia, elected from among the nine heads of the royal families. The title is often glossed King in English.
• Yang di-Pertuan Negara (lierally "He who is made Lord of the State" but usually "Head of State") is the official title of the Sultan of Brunei. The title was also used in Singapore until its independence in 1965, upon which the title became President.
• Yang di-Pertuan Besar (literally "He who is made Great Lord", but often "Great Lord") is the official title of the Ruler of Negeri Sembilan. All other Rulers are Sultans except the Raja of Perlis.
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri is not a royal title, but the title of a Governor of a state which does not have a native Ruler.
• Tuanku is both a title when used before a name and form of address when used alone, and is reserved for the Malay Rulers. It literally means "My Lord", and as a form of address can be glossed as "Your Majesty" or "Your Highness, but is left untranslated when used as a title. In Aceh, now a province of Indonesia, "Tuanku" is given to children and grandchildren of a ruling monarch. In Sarawak, "Tuanku" is the prefix used by certain noble families.
• Tengku (also spelled Tunku in Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Kedah) is roughly equivalent to Prince. In Perlis, the tile is replaced by Syed and in Perak, by Raja. In Aceh, "Tengku" is the title given to religious officers, eg. Tengku Imam Meunasah(leader of the mosque).

The following styles often precede the royal title on formal notices:

• Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia (literally "The Dust Under The Feet of His Exalted Highness")is used for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and state Rulers alike. However, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong also uses the prefix "Seri Paduka Baginda" (literally, "Conqueror Majesty") and in English, his title is often translated as "His Majesty". A state Ruler is "His Royal Highness" (in colonial times "His Highness"). Since 1984, the ruler of Johor has used the title "Baginda" as well, but he is still referred to in English as "His Royal Highness". The ruler of Perak also uses the prefix "Paduka Seri" which is derived from the archaic formula "Paduka Seri Maulana". The ruler of Negeri Sembilan also used the prefix "Paduka Seri" between 1993 and 2004 (this has since been dropped). These titles are not used as a form of address - instead Tuanku is used.
• Yang Teramat Mulia is used by the children of reigning Sultans (except in Negeri Sembilan) and by the Dato' Kelana, the Undang of Sungai Ujong in Negeri Sembilan
• Yang Amat Mulia is used by the children of the ruler of Negeri Sembilan and Johor, the Undang of Jelebu, Johol and Rembau and the Tunku Besar of Tampin in Negeri Sembilan
• Yang Mulia are used for Tengkus, Rajas and Syeds

Orders of Chivalry

The following titles can be granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Ruler or Governor of each state. They are honorary and non-hereditary.

Federal titles

• Tun is the highest non-royal title and is limited to 25 holders at any one time. The wife of a Tun is Toh Puan. The latest recipient is former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
• Tan Sri is the second highest title. The wife of a Tan Sri is Puan Sri.

State titles

• Dato' Seri Utama is the highest state title, below Tun but above Tan Sri. The wife of a recipent is "Datin Seri Utama" .
• Dato' Seri or Dato' Paduka ranks below the federal titles above. The wife of a Dato' Seri is a Datin Seri.
• Dato' (also Datuk) is the most common chivalrous title. The wife of a Dato' is a Datin, except in Terengganu where they are known as "To' Puan". There are also Dato's whose titles are conferred by the federal government.
• There are also hereditary Datukships from Negeri Sembilan. These are not conferred by the ruler, but passed on through the customary native laws. The wife of a hereditary Dato' is addressed by courtesy as "To' Puan".

datuk seri

Honorary Styles

The following are both used as styles, before a person's title, and (by themselves) as forms of address:

• Tuan Yang Terutama (T.Y.T.) is the style of a state Governor, equivalent to "Your/His Excellency".
• Yang Amat Berhormat (Y.A.B.) is the style of the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, Tuns who are also Members of Parliament and the Chief Ministers of the states.
• Yang Berhormat (Y.B.) is the style of Members of Parliament and state Legislative Assemblymen. A prince who is a Member of Parliament is "Yang Berhormat Mulia" eg Yang Berhormat Mulia Tengku Tan Sri Razaleigh Hamzah, the MP for Gua Musang. "Yang Berhormat" is also used for recipients of the First Class Order of the Crown of Johor (S.P.M.J.) regardless whether he is a Member of Parliament or not.
• Yang Amat Arif (Y.A.A.) is the style of the Chief Justice of Malaysia.
• Yang Arif (Y.A.) is the style of a judge.
• Yang Berbahagia (Y.Bhg.) (and variants thereof) are the styles of persons with a chivalrous title.

The English versions of these styles follow British usage. Thus the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers, Senators, state Executive Councillors and judges of the High Court and above are styled the Honourable. It is a solecism to style the Prime Minister or a Chief Minister Right Honourable as they are not members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.

Other Titles

• Syed is the title of men who can trace direct blood descent from the Prophet. Female descendants are known as Syarifah.
• Haji (or Hajjah) can be used by people who have completed the Hajj.
• Tuan is equivalent to Master. Due to its feudal overtones, this term is largely obsolete, although the title can still be prepended to Syed and Haji. It is also used for non-titled Members of Parliament and State Assemblymen.
• Encik is equivalent to Mr.
• Puan is equivalent to Mrs.
• Cik is equivalent to Miss.

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