Malaysia to welcome a new king on Jan. 31

By Muhammad Latief

JAKARTA (AA) - Malaysia is set to welcome a new king on Jan. 31, local media reported.

Datuk Seri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, the keeper of the rulers' seal, announced that the Conference of Rulers set Jan. 24 as the date to elect Malaysia's new supreme ruler during a Monday meeting in capital Kuala Lumpur, daily The Star reported.

The Conference of Rulers consists of sultans of nine royal houses who rule their own states and governors of four other states.

The governors are not entitled to participate in the meetings for election and removal of the king.

The official said the meeting was attended by the rulers of Terengganu, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Perak and Kedah.

Earlier on Sunday, the country's National Palace announced that 49-year-old King Muhammad V had abdicated the crown after two years on the throne -- before completing a five-year tenure.

His abdication marks the first time a king has stepped down in Malaysia's history.

There were no official details provided on the reason for the king’s resignation. However, circulating rumors said his marriage to a Russian beauty queen did not sit well with the country's conservative royal household.

King Muhammad V, who was previously a Sultan of Kelantan State, was sworn in December 2016.

During the Monday meeting, the Conference of Rulers also agreed that the deputy king, Sultan of Perak State Nazrin Shah, will become the head of state until a new king is chosen.

“He will perform all his duties from the State Palace but will not be residing there,” said a member of the Advisory Council to the Ruler of Perak Datuk Seri Annuar Zaini.

In Malaysia's constitutional monarchy system, the election for the king is held on a rotational basis of every five years by and from the nine rulers of the Malay states.

The next in line in the rotation of the nine rulers is the Sultan of Pahang, followed by Sultan of Johor and Sultan of Perak.

The King of Malaysia has the authority to appoint a prime minister to represent the voice of the parliament. He is also the supreme commander of the armed forces.

In addition, the monarch has the power to forgive someone who violates the law in all federal regions of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya. He is also Head of Islam in the nine states ruled by royals and four states ruled by appointed governors.

Constitutional law expert Datuk Shad Saleem Faruqi said that there was no law in the constitution spelling out a time limit for appointment of a new king.

Faruqi pointed out that when the sixth King died in 1979, it was almost a month after that the Sultan of Pahang ascended the throne.

"We have a deputy king and therefore the death or resignation of the king does not affect the administration of the country as the deputy can perform all the duties of the king in his absence," he added.