ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: LESSONS IN HISTORY, CULTURE AND NATURE

A royal town or Bandar Diraja is a unique feature that only nine states — Selangor, Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Negri Sembilan, Johor, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu — that practise a monarchial system of government have.

This is opposed to the gubernatorial system used in Malaysia’s Borneo states (Sabah and Sarawak) and Straits states (Penang and Melaka), where their respective ceremonial head of state is the Governor, also known as Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

A fun and known fact about the rulers of the nine states (seven sultans, one raja, and one Yang di-Pertuan Besar) is that they rotate every five years for the office of the federal head, known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Let’s zoom in on these royal capitals and see what makes each unique and special.