Reign of Sultan Ibrahim begins
Johor ruler ascends federal throne as 17th King of Malaysia, Sultan Nazrin is Deputy Agong
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia now has a new Supreme Head of State following the swearing-in of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim of Johor as the 17th King of Malaysia in a ceremony steeped in Malay tradition at Istana Negara.
The ceremony yesterday marked the beginning of Sultan Ibrahim’s reign as the pillar of the nation’s sovereignty, peace and unity in the country in accordance with the Federal Constitution.
Sultan Ibrahim, 65, when taking the oath of office, pledged to reign justly and safeguard at all times the sanctity of Islam, peace and the well-being of the people.
At the ceremony, the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah, 67, also took the oath of office as Deputy King, completing the constitutional monarchy system practised in the country.
Sultan Ibrahim and Sultan Nazrin Shah were elected to the office by the Malay Rulers at the 263rd (Special) Meeting of the Conference of Rulers in October last year to reign for a five-year term, from yesterday.
Malaysia is one of 43 nations which practise the system of a constitutional monarchy, but the rotational system of electing a king from among nine Malay rulers is the only one of its kind in the world.
So far, Malaysia has had 17 kings who take turns to reign for a five-year term.
Yesterday, a er 35 years, the Royal Standard of the Yang diPertuan Agong was once again hoisted in Johor.
The last time the flag was hoisted in the state was when Sultan Ibrahim’s father, the late Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Iskandar, was elected as the 8th King to reign from April 25, 1984, to April 25, 1989.
Sultan Ibrahim and Sultan Nazrin Shah took their oath and signed the instruments of office before the other Malay rulers from Terengganu, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Kedah; the Regents of Johor, Pahang and Perlis and Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan; Governors of Melaka, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak; as well as dignitaries from the executive, legislative and judiciary.
The ceremony at the Balairung Seri was held during the 264th (Special) Meeting of the Conference of Rulers presided by Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu.
Sultan Ibrahim also signed the proclamation of assuming the office of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and Sultan Nazrin the office of the Deputy Yang diPertuan Agong.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim then read out the instrument of the proclamation, officially signifying Sultan Ibrahim’s ascension to the federal throne as the new Supreme Head of State of Malaysia in accordance with the laws and the Federal Constitution.
Also present were Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Sultan Ibrahim replaces AlSultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin AlMustafa Billah Shah of Pahang whose five-year reign as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong ended Tuesday.
Al-Sultan Abdullah ascended the federal throne on Jan 31, 2019.
At yesterday’s ceremony, the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad also explained to the Malay rulers and governors that the Conference of Rulers meeting has a significantly profound history with the Johor Sultanate.
“Forgive me, Your Majesties. Allow me to explain that the 264th meeting is counted from February 1948 when the Conference of Rulers was first established following the dissolution of the Malayan Union on Jan 31, 1948, and replaced by the Federation of Malaya Agreement.
“Coincidentally, the first meeting of the Conference of Rulers was presided over by the most senior Malay ruler at that time, Major General Sir Ibrahim, the Sultan of Johor, the great-grandfather of His Majesty the King,” he said.
After the ceremony, Sultan Ibrahim also granted an audience for the introduction of several dignitaries, including Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Chief of Defence Forces Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain and Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Mohd Zuki Ali.
Earlier, about 30,000 people in Johor gathered along the streets, spanning from Istana Bukit Serene to Senai International Airport in Kulai, as early as 6.30am to witness the momentous departure of Sultan Ibrahim to Kuala Lumpur to take the oath of office of the new King of Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the King’s senior private secretary Datuk Nazim Mohd Alim said the official title for Sultan Ibrahim would be ‘His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia’.
He also announced that His Majesty’s consort’s official title would be ‘Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia’.