This article examines the constitutional nature of the Malaysian monarchies in their social context. We discuss the evolution of the monarchies through pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial history, and account for their survival despite several attempts to curb their powers, including restriction of the royal assent and sovereign immunity. It is argued that the powers of the monarchies respond to their historical role and social embeddedness of the monarchies, stretching the role of the Rulers beyond the Westminster norms as set out in constitutional texts. Moving to contemporary issues, we see the assertion of the right to uphold the Constitution in relation to prime-ministerial appointments, and acting on advice. Here, the monarchies reflect a braiding of both traditional elements and Westminster constitutional norms.

中文翻译：

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宪政与社会观念中的马来君主制

本文探讨了马来西亚君主制在其社会背景下的宪政性质。我们讨论了君主制在前殖民、殖民和后殖民历史中的演变，并解释了尽管曾多次试图限制君主的权力，包括限制王室同意和主权豁免，但君主制仍然存在。有人认为，君主制的权力回应了君主制的历史作用和社会嵌入，将统治者的作用延伸到宪法文本中规定的威斯敏斯特规范之外。谈到当代问题，我们看到在总理任命和听取建议方面维护宪法的权利。在这里，君主制反映了传统元素和威斯敏斯特宪法规范的结合。