The Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, sworn in as the 16^th King of Malaysia at a ceremony held on 31 January.

Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah with his wife, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Iskandar, as he salutes the guard of honour during an official welcome at Parliament Square in Kuala Lumpur on 31 Jan. (Photo: AFP)

Sultan Abdullah was elected king by the Conference of Rulers on 24 January, replacing Sultan Muhammad V, who resigned on 6 January after over two years on the throne.

Also at the swearing-in ceremony, televised and attended by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, who was elected deputy king, also took the oath of office.

Both of their terms last for five years.

Malaysia has a constitutional monarchy, in which the national throne changes hands every 5 years among royal rulers of the country’s nine states.

(Source: VNA)