KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 31): 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 also 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, as well as the peace and 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, respectively, 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 Wednesday.

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 took turns to reign for a five-year term.

On Wednesday, after 35 years, the Royal Standard of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is 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 oaths 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 country’s executive, legislative and judiciary bodies.

The ceremony at the Balairung Seri (Throne Room) was held during the 264th (Special) Meeting of the Conference of Rulers, which was presided over 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 di-Pertuan 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 Federal Constitution.

Also present were the two deputy prime ministers Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Sultan Ibrahim replaced Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah of Pahang whose five-year reign as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong ended on Tuesday (Jan 30). Al-Sultan Abdullah ascended the federal throne on Jan 31, 2019.

At the 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 had 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 on Wednesday, about 30,000 people in Johor gathered along the streets, spanning from Istana Bukit Serene to Senai International Airport (LTAS) 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.

Daulat Tuanku!