Malaysia's unique revolving monarchy was passed yesterday to the youthful sultan of the oil-rich state of Terengganu, a keen horse rider who has represented his country at international events.
Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, at 44, is Malaysia's second-youngest king ever, and is to serve a five-year term in the capital Kuala Lumpur after he was sworn in at a solemn ceremony at the king's palace.
Mizan, clad in royal yellow and sporting a sparkling ethnic Malay head-dress and a knife called the keris, was flanked by Malay state rulers as he read and signed an oath of office vowing to be loyal to Malaysia's laws and constitution.
PHOTO: AFP
The new monarch, who was composed through the ceremony, promised to protect Islam, Malaysia's official religion, and said he "will ensure a fair and peaceful rule in the country."
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, seated opposite with his Cabinet, then presented and read a letter declaring Mizan as king.
The sultan of northern Kedah state, Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, was also sworn in as deputy king.
Mizan and his wife, Nur Zahirah, 33, arrived earlier yesterday from Terengganu and headed for parliament in a mustard gold Rolls Royce for an official welcome from Abdullah.
They were treated to a 21-gun salute after Mizan inspected a guard of honor. Ministers and foreign dignitaries stood in attendance to shake hands with Mizan and his queen, also dressed in yellow with a tiara placed on her headscarf.
Mizan will be formally installed as Yang di-Pertuan Agong ("He Who Is Made Lord," in Malay) in a grand ceremony next year at a date to be set.
Since independence in 1957 the country has had a system of elective monarchy, with the rulers of nine of the country's 13 states choosing a new king every five years.
The king commands great respect from Malaysians, especially the country's majority Malays, who maintain a loyalty to rulers which can be traced back to Malay sultanates centuries ago.
"We as Malaysians hope there will be peace and harmony under the leadership of the new king," said Rahmat Manidi from southern Johor state, amongst callers phoning in tributes to a state television channel.
The king is also the symbolic head of Islam in the majority-Muslim nation, as well as the nominal chief of the military.
BACKLASH: The National Party quit its decades-long partnership with the Liberal Party after their election loss to center-left Labor, which won a historic third term Australia’s National Party has split from its conservative coalition partner of more than 60 years, the Liberal Party, citing policy differences over renewable energy and after a resounding loss at a national election this month. “Its time to have a break,” Nationals leader David Littleproud told reporters yesterday. The split shows the pressure on Australia’s conservative parties after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor party won a historic second term in the May 3 election, powered by a voter backlash against US President Donald Trump’s policies. Under the long-standing partnership in state and federal politics, the Liberal and National coalition had shared power
CONTROVERSY: During the performance of Israel’s entrant Yuval Raphael’s song ‘New Day Will Rise,’ loud whistles were heard and two people tried to get on stage Austria’s JJ yesterday won the Eurovision Song Contest, with his operatic song Wasted Love triumphing at the world’s biggest live music television event. After votes from national juries around Europe and viewers from across the continent and beyond, JJ gave Austria its first victory since bearded drag performer Conchita Wurst’s 2014 triumph. After the nail-biting drama as the votes were revealed running into yesterday morning, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel — whose participation drew protests — on 357 and Estonia on 356. “Thank you to you, Europe, for making my dreams come true,” 24-year-old countertenor JJ, whose
A documentary whose main subject, 25-year-old photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza weeks before it premiered at Cannes stunned viewers into silence at the festival on Thursday. As the cinema lights came back on, filmmaker Sepideh Farsi held up an image of the young Palestinian woman killed with younger siblings on April 16, and encouraged the audience to stand up and clap to pay tribute. “To kill a child, to kill a photographer is unacceptable,” Farsi said. “There are still children to save. It must be done fast,” the exiled Iranian filmmaker added. With Israel
NO EXCUSES: Marcos said his administration was acting on voters’ demands, but an academic said the move was emotionally motivated after a poor midterm showing Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr yesterday sought the resignation of all his Cabinet secretaries, in a move seen as an attempt to reset the political agenda and assert his authority over the second half of his single six-year term. The order came after the president’s allies failed to win a majority of Senate seats contested in the 12 polls on Monday last week, leaving Marcos facing a divided political and legislative landscape that could thwart his attempts to have an ally succeed him in 2028. “He’s talking to the people, trying to salvage whatever political capital he has left. I think it’s
RSS