States of Malaysia

Malaysia is a federation of 13 states. Eleven states are located on the Malay Peninsula while two others are on the island of Borneo.

West Malaysia, i.e. the peninsula

(Capital cities are in parentheses)

Sultanate of Johor (Johor Bahru)
Sultanate of Kedah (Alor Setar)
Sultanate of Kelantan (Kota Baharu)
Melaka (Malacca Town)
Elective Monarchy of Negeri Sembilan (Seremban)
Sultanate of Pahang (Kuantan)
Sultanate of Perak (Ipoh)
Kingdom of Perlis (Kangar)
Pulau Pinang (George Town)
Sultanate of Selangor (Shah Alam)
Sultanate of Terengganu (Kuala Terengganu)

Federal territories:
- Federal Territory of Putrajaya (the federation's new administrative capital)
- Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (the federation's original formal, legislative and economical capital)

East Malaysia, on Borneo

(Capital cities are in parentheses.)

Sabah, formerly North Borneo (Kota Kinabalu, formerly Jesselton)
Sarawak (Kuching)

Federal territory:
- Federal Territory of Labuan (Victoria)

Civil State codes

Each of the thirteen states and the three Federal Territories are identified by a civil state code:

Johor: JH
Melaka: MK
Negeri Sembilan: NS
Selangor: SL
Perak: PK
Penang: PP or PN
Kedah: KH
Perlis: PS
Kelantan: KN
Terengganu: TR
Pahang: PH
Sabah: SBH
Sarawak: SWK
Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur: KL
Federal Territory of Labuan: LB
Federal Territory of Putrajaya: PTJ

Rulers

The nine Malay states have a native titular Ruler and a popularly elected, executive Chief Minister or Menteri Besar. The rulers of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor and Terengganu are known as Sultans (typically Islamic). Only Negeri Sembilan's elective ruler holds the rare, autochthonous Malay title of Yang Dipertuan Besar, whereas only the Ruler of Perlis is titled Raja (a relic from the Hindu period). The former British settlements and crown colonies of Penang and Malacca (both peninsular) and Sabah and Sarawak (both on North Borneo) each have a federally appointed titular Governor (but styled Yang di-Pertua Negeri 'head of state') and an executive Chief Minister.

History

Singapore was a Malaysian state from the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963 until Singapore separated from the rest of Malaysia on 9 August 1965.

External links

Local government in Malaysia

Lists of subnational entities | States of Malaysia