The extent to which the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS) is sensitive and appropriate to be used in different cultural contexts remains underexplored in the literature. To address this research gap, this study attempts to validate a Malay language version of PIMRS by assessing convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity from a hierarchical perspective. Data were collected from 375 primary school teachers from 30 selected schools in Penang and Kedah, Malaysia. Data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling approach with SmartPLS 3.2.9 software. Findings revealed that four items had to be excluded to ensure the construct validity of the third-, second-, and first-order constructs. Convergent validity and discriminant validity were established for all the second- and first-order constructs with the statistic estimates exceeding the respective threshold. Redundancy analysis confirmed the establishment of the convergent validity of instructional leadership as a formative third-order construct. Criterion validity was established with the significant and positive effect of instructional leadership on collective teacher efficacy (CTE) ([beta] = 0.578, t = 14.206). Local and international educational researchers could replicate the current validation approach in future psychometric PIMRS validation studies in a different research context.