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MALAYSIA marked a historic milestone today with the installation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim as the nation’s 17th king, highlighting the distinctive nature of its rotating constitutional monarchy.
The 65-year-old ruler was sworn in at a ceremonious installation steeped in tradition in Istana Negara this morning.
He was attired in official ceremonial wear known as the muskat, complete with the royal headdress, a buckle and a short dagger that compose the royal regalia.
Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, was clad in a gold baju kurung Johor.
The royal couple entered the Balairung Seri of Istana Negara at 10.21am to the sounds of the nafiri (trumpet) and the tune of “Raja Berangkat” played by the Perak Nobat royal orchestra.
Grand Chamberlain Azuan Effendy Zairakithnaini brough with him the Quran and the rest of the regalia, including the Keris Panjang Diraja, Proclamation Letter, and Oath of Installation.
The king kissed the Quran to signify the start of the installation.
Azuan presented the Proclamation Letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who formally proclaimed Sultan Ibrahim the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Sultan Ibrahim was entrusted with the Keris Panjang Diraja, which he placed on the table to his left, before taking the oath as the king.
Immediately after the oath, Azuan led the hall in proclaiming “Daulat Tuanku” thrice. The national anthem was then played, along with a 21-gun salute.
Anwar, representing the government and the people, delivered his congratulatory message before the king and queen.
Sultan Ibrahim delivered his royal address to the people, pledging to lead the country in a just and fair manner, and expressed his gratitude to those who had made the installation ceremony a success.
Following the royal address, a doa selamat prayer was recited. The grand chamberlain then collected the Quran from the throne before declaring the installation ceremony completed.
About 700 guests, including the Malay rulers, governors, foreign dignitaries, and leaders, attended the ceremony, which was streamed live on national television.
Azuan highlighted the significance of the installation ceremony at Istana Negara, emphasising Malaysia’s singular status as the sole nation in the world practising a distinctive monarchical system.
The event also marks the near completion of the second cycle of rotation among Malaysia’s nine monarchical states.
Azuan noted that Sultan Ibrahim, who will reign for five years, is the second last in the current rotation order before Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, if he is selected by the Conference of Rulers.
“Following Sultan Nazrin, the third cycle of rotation will commence. The first rotation saw three rejections to serve as King, but the second round is particularly noteworthy because it strictly follows the established order without any amendments or changes.
“This adherence reflects the strength and mutual understanding among the rulers. Although they could have opted to alter the rotation, as the arrangement is based on an understanding within the Conference of Rulers, they chose to honour the original sequence without any modifications,” he said in a recent interview with Bernama.
Azuan said that the selection of the king was predicated on the seniority of the rulers.
The order of succession in the first cycle since 1957 was as follows: Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Perlis, Terengganu, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Johor, and Perak.
In 1994, the rotation entered its second cycle with the installation of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Ja’afar Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, as the 10th king.
The Conference of Rulers employs a secret ballot to determine the next king, taking into account several critical factors, such as the elected ruler’s willingness to serve and the absence of any mental incapacity.
The chosen ruler must be at the pinnacle of the rotation list, garner the support of at least five other rulers, and must not have served as king for two consecutive terms, ensuring fairness and adherence to the established order.
Before the election process begins, the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal will first consult with the next ruler in line to ascertain his readiness and willingness to be elected as hing.
Subsequently, the nine rulers will cast a secret vote, and if the ruler in question garners five votes, he is elected the next king.
This process is also employed to select the deputy king, who will fulfil the king’s duties in his absence.
Sultan Nazrin is currently the deputy king, a role he has performed since 2016 during the reign of Sultan Muhammad V.
Sultan Ibrahim took his oath and signed the instrument of office as the 17th king on January 31. – July 20, 2024.
