The Yang di-Pertuan Negara or Head of State of Singapore replaced the British colonial Governor under the constitution of 1959 which granted Singapore limited self-government. Under a transitional arrangement, the last British Governor, Sir William Goode was sworn in as the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara, although he was replaced six months later by Yusuf bin Ishak

The title of Yang di-Pertuan Negara was retained when Singapore became a state of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, but was replaced by the title of President of Singapore when it became an independent Republic in 1965.

The Malaysian state of Sabah had a Yang di-Pertua Negara from 1963 until 1976, when the office was replaced by that of Yang di-Pertua Negeri

The Sultan of Brunei is also Yang di-Pertuan Negara or Head of State of Brunei.