[UPDATED] Sultan Ibrahim’s five-year term as Yang di-Pertuan Agong begins

KUALA LUMPUR – Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has taken the oath of office as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara here today.

The momentous ceremony took place during the 264th special meeting of the Conference of Rulers in the throne room, Balairung Seri.

Sultan Ibrahim assumed the throne after Pahang ruler Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s term ended yesterday.

Meanwhile, Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak has taken the oath of office as deputy Agong.

Their Majesties were elected to the office, respectively, by the Malay rulers at the 263rd (Special) Meeting of the Conference of Rulers in October last year to reign for a five-year term from today.

Malaysia is one of 43 nations that practice the system of a constitutional monarchy, but the rotational system of electing a king from among nine Malay rulers is the only one of its kind in the world.

Sultan Ibrahim, 65, and Sultan Nazrin Shah, 67, took their oaths and signed the instruments of office before the other Malay rulers from Terengganu, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Perak and Kedah, the regents of Johor, Pahang and Perlis, and the tengku mahkota of Kelantan, the governors of Melaka, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak, as well as dignitaries from the executive, legislative and judiciary.

After that, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim read out the instrument of the proclamation, officially signifying Sultan Ibrahim’s ascension to the federal throne as the new head of state of Malaysia in accordance with the laws and the federal constitution.

Istana Negara religious officer Datuk Munir Md Salleh recited the “doa” (prayers), seeking the blessings of Allah for the well-being of Their Majesties, the people and the nation. – January 31, 2024