Yang di-Pertua Negeri, literally the "head of state" in Malay, is the title of the largely symbolic state Governors of the Malaysian states of Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak, who are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or King of Malaysia.
Between 1963 and 1976, Sabah had a Yang di-Pertua Negara, while Singapore had a Yang di-Pertuan Negara during the time it was a Malaysian state from 1963 to 1965. In present day usage negeri and negara mean "state (sub-national)" and "state (country)" respectively, while the finer distinction between Yang di-Pertua and Yang di-Pertuan is similar to the English "head" and "ruler".
See also: Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Malay titles
