Kuala Lumpur: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the 17th King of Malaysia, pledged to discharge his duties faithfully, honestly and fairly with full consideration to all segments of the society to safeguard the well-being and sovereignty of the country.
“Insya-Allah, I will discharge my duties faithfully and honestly, and to rule fairly with full consideration to all segments of the society in order to safeguard the wellbeing and sovereignty of the country,” the King said in his royal address at his installation ceremony at Istana Negara, Saturday.
At the same time, Sultan Ibrahim also expressed hope that the government would continue to work to alleviate the burden of the people and develop the country to be more advanced and prosperous.
The King also expressed appreciation to the Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha for gracing his installation ceremony.
He thanked the King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his presence.
“I would also like to express my highest gratitude to all the Malay rulers and their representatives attending the ceremony.
“I also want to thank all those present here today and those who sent their congratulatory messages and prayers in conjunction with my installation as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today,” said Sultan Ibrahim.
“Last but not least, let us pray to Allah SWT to bless Malaysia so that the country will continue to progress and prosper, with the people living in unity, peacefully and happily,” he said.
The installation was in a ceremony steeped in Malay royal customs and tradition at Istana Negara today, marking a historic and momentous event for the nation.
Sultan Ibrahim was elected the 17th King at the special 263rd meeting of the Conference of Rulers, at Istana Negara, on Oct 27, 2023, and took his oath of office on Jan 31 this year.
Grand Chamberlain of Istana Negara Datuk Azuan Effendy Zairakithnaini highlighted the significance of the installation emphasising Malaysia’s singular status as the sole nation in the world practising this distinctive monarchical system.
This event also marks the near completion of the second cycle of rotation among Malaysia’s nine monarchical states, a testament to the nation’s enduring traditions.
Azuan Effendy said Sultan Ibrahim, who will reign for five years starting this year, is the second last in the current rotation order before Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah if he is elected 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 shared in a recent interview with Bernama.
Azuan Effendy elaborated that the initial selection of the King was predicated on the seniority of the Rulers. Once the first rotation cycle was completed, this established sequence was meticulously adhered to, ensuring continuity and respect for tradition.
According to the rotational convention involving the nine Rulers, the order of succession in the first cycle since 1957 was as follows: Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Perlis, Terengganu, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Johor, and Perak.
In 1994, the rotation entered its second cycle with the installation of the late Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Ja’afar Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, as the 10th King, marking a new chapter in Malaysia’s rich monarchical history.
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.
Additionally, 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.
Typically, 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 King.
Subsequently, the nine Rulers cast a secret vote, and if the Ruler in question garners five votes, he is officially elected as the next King.
This meticulous process is also employed to select the Deputy King, who will fulfil the King’s duties during any absence from the country or due to illness.
Currently, Sultan Nazrin serves as the Deputy King, a role he has diligently 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 Jan 31.
