UPDATE - Sultan Muhammad V ascends to Malaysian throne

UPDATES TO REMOVE REPETITION IN PARAGRAPH 2

By P Prem Kumar

KUALA LUMPUR (AA) - Sultan Muhammad V officially ascended to the Malaysian throne Tuesday in ceremonies steeped in tradition and customs at Parliament Square and the National Palace.

The coronation comes after the Conference of Rulers elected the 47-year-old -- Malaysia's 15th King -- on Oct. 14 to take over from Kedah state's Sultan Abdul Halim.

The position of king is rotated among rulers from nine Malaysian states, with each term lasting five years.

On Tuesday, his majesty arrived at the square at 11 a.m. (0300GMT) where he was greeted by Prime Minister Najib Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Also in attendance were cabinet ministers and members of parliament.

The royal herald, comprising 20 personnel of the First Battalion Regiment of the Royal Armored Corp, sounded a trumpet call to announce his arrival.

Sultan Muhammad V, a ruler from the northern state of Kelantan, was then ushered to the dais, passing a royal guard.

At 11.20 a.m. he left for the National Palace, where he took the oath of office as the 15th Malaysian King.

Sultan Muhammad V attended St. Cross College at Oxford University where he studied diplomatic studies before studying Islamic Studies at Oxford Centre.

He then continued his education in diplomatic studies and business administration at Huron University College, London.