Malaysia’s king abdicated on
Sunday in a historic first for the country that ended weeks of speculation about
his future after he took medical leave and reportedly married a Russian
ex-beauty queen. Sultan Muhammad V’s decision marks the first time a king has
stepped aside during his five-year term in Muslim-majority Malaysia.
The national palace confirmed the
resignation with immediate effect of the 49-year-old, who had been on the
throne for two years and was known for his fondness for four-wheel driving and
other extreme sports.
“His majesty tells the people of
Malaysia to continue to be united to maintain unity, tolerance, and work
together,” said a statement from the Comptroller of the Royal Household, Wan
Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.
Malaysia’s Islamic rulers will
now meet to decide on the next king. Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy,
with a unique arrangement where the throne changes hands every five years
between rulers of the nine Malaysian states headed by centuries-old Islamic
royalty.
The system has been in place
since independence from Britain in 1957. Royal officials gave no reason for
Sultan Muhammad V’s move but there had been a question mark over the king’s
reign since he went on leave for medical treatment in November.
Secret marriage?
Reports in British and Russian
media then surfaced saying that he had married the former Miss Moscow in the
Russian capital in a lavish ceremony.
Royal officials in Malaysia have
so far not commented on the rumoured marriage, or given any details about the
state of the king’s health.
Speculation intensified about the
king’s future after his medical leave officially finished at the end of
December, and the country’s Islamic royals reportedly held a special meeting
last week.
While their role is ceremonial,
Malaysia’s Islamic royalty command great respect, especially from Muslim
Malays, and criticising them is strictly forbidden.
Sultan Muhammad V studied at St
Cross College at Oxford and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, according to
official media. He is known for a relaxed public persona, taking part in
walkathons to promote health, and has been photographed wearing a baseball cap
backwards.
According to a report from
official news agency Bernama at the time of his enthronement, he “fills his
free time by reading and has an interest in extreme sports such as four-wheel
drive expeditions and endurance challenges and shooting”.
He is also the ceremonial ruler
of the conservative Islamic northern state of Kelantan. The palace statement
said he was “ready to return home to the state of Kelantan to be together with
the state government and… the Kelantanese people”.
7, January 2019
Malaysia: King abdicates after two years on the throne 0
Malaysia’s king abdicated on Sunday in a historic first for the country that ended weeks of speculation about his future after he took medical leave and reportedly married a Russian ex-beauty queen. Sultan Muhammad V’s decision marks the first time a king has stepped aside during his five-year term in Muslim-majority Malaysia.
The national palace confirmed the resignation with immediate effect of the 49-year-old, who had been on the throne for two years and was known for his fondness for four-wheel driving and other extreme sports.
“His majesty tells the people of Malaysia to continue to be united to maintain unity, tolerance, and work together,” said a statement from the Comptroller of the Royal Household, Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.
Malaysia’s Islamic rulers will now meet to decide on the next king. Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, with a unique arrangement where the throne changes hands every five years between rulers of the nine Malaysian states headed by centuries-old Islamic royalty.
The system has been in place since independence from Britain in 1957. Royal officials gave no reason for Sultan Muhammad V’s move but there had been a question mark over the king’s reign since he went on leave for medical treatment in November.
Secret marriage?
Reports in British and Russian media then surfaced saying that he had married the former Miss Moscow in the Russian capital in a lavish ceremony.
Royal officials in Malaysia have so far not commented on the rumoured marriage, or given any details about the state of the king’s health.
Speculation intensified about the king’s future after his medical leave officially finished at the end of December, and the country’s Islamic royals reportedly held a special meeting last week.
While their role is ceremonial, Malaysia’s Islamic royalty command great respect, especially from Muslim Malays, and criticising them is strictly forbidden.
Sultan Muhammad V studied at St Cross College at Oxford and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, according to official media. He is known for a relaxed public persona, taking part in walkathons to promote health, and has been photographed wearing a baseball cap backwards.
According to a report from official news agency Bernama at the time of his enthronement, he “fills his free time by reading and has an interest in extreme sports such as four-wheel drive expeditions and endurance challenges and shooting”.
He is also the ceremonial ruler of the conservative Islamic northern state of Kelantan. The palace statement said he was “ready to return home to the state of Kelantan to be together with the state government and… the Kelantanese people”.
(AFP)