Pahang royal council to meet

Sultan could make way for his son Tengku Abdullah

Tengku Abdullah will chair the meeting in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow after prayers.

KUANTAN: Talk has been swirling about Sultan Ahmad Shah’s abdication as the Sultan of Pahang to make way for his son the Regent of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah (pic).

Any truth about such talk would be determined in a meeting by the Pahang royal council tomorrow.

A palace source said the council, which is chaired by Tengku Abdullah, will be meeting in Kuala Lumpur after Friday prayers.

However, the source declined to comment on the subject matter of the meeting itself.

It has been reported that a proposal to install Tengku Abdullah as the Sultan of Pahang had been submitted by several influential family members and advisers in the royal house.

The selection of the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong has become a much-discussed topic after Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan stepped down as King on Jan 6.

The Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad said that the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong would take his oath of office on Jan 31.

After the Sultan of Kelantan, the next in line in the rotation of the nine Malay Rulers are the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan of Johor and Sultan of Perak respectively.

It is understood that Sultan Ahmad Shah, 88, is unwell.

However, Tengku Abdullah may yet become King if he is crowned as the Sultan of Pahang first.

Under Article 9 of the state constitution, the Pahang ruler can abdicate his throne and relinquish his royal rights and powers should he wish to do so.

The next in line to the throne should be the heir apparent of Sultan Ahmad Shah, which would be Tengku Abdullah.

Should Tengku Abdullah ascend the throne as the Sultan of Pahang, this would make him eligible to be elected as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by the Conference of Rulers.

Sultan Ahmad Shah had served as the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong from April 26, 1979, to April 25, 1984.

The Conference of Rulers will hold a special meeting on Jan 24 to choose the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and on Jan 31, they will reconvene to decide on the date for the oath-taking ceremony.