Malaysian king abdicates after week of intense speculation

(FILES) This file photo taken on July 17, 2018 shows the 15th king of Malaysia, Sultan Muhammad V, saluting a royal guard of honour during the opening ceremony of the parliament in Kuala Lumpur. – Malaysia’s King Sultan Muhammad V has abdicated, a statement from the National Palace said on January 6, 2019. (Photo by Mohd RASFAN / AFP)
(FILES) This file photo taken on July 17, 2018 shows the 15th king of Malaysia, Sultan Muhammad V, saluting a royal guard of honour during the opening ceremony of the parliament in Kuala Lumpur. – Malaysia’s King Sultan Muhammad V has abdicated, a statement from the National Palace said on January 6, 2019. (Photo by Mohd RASFAN / AFP)

Palace officials confirmed yesterday that Sultan Muhammad V, the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, has abdicated with immediate effect.

The announcement concludes a week of rumors and uncertainty regarding his future as king, and a mysterious — and rare — mid-week emergency meeting conducted by the eight other state sultans, from which the (now former) Agong was notably absent.

The Sunday evening announcement marks the first time in Malaysia’s history since British independence that an Agong has abdicated the throne.

Events leading up to Sultan Muhammad V’s stepping down have left proverbial tongues wagging in trying to piece together the cause and effect of events: In November, just two years into his five-year tenure, the palace announced that the Sultan would be taking a three month leave of absence from his duties while he recovered from an unnamed illness.

However, the following month, photos in both the Russian and British press showed what appeared to be the 49-year-old Sultan, alive, well, and marrying a 25-year-old former Miss Moscow. Malaysian press has remained largely mum on the subject, and the story was never confirmed nor even acknowledged by the palace.

As revelers rang in the new year, rumors that Sultan Muhammad V would be leaving his post began to circulate online, and even well-known political commentators seemed to agree that the end was nigh. On Friday, the palace announced that the Sultan had “resumed his duties” as Agong, but less than 48 hours later, his exit was confirmed.

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, where each of the country’s nine sultans take turns acting as nation leaders on a five-year rotating basis. A successor has yet to be announced, however, experts suspect that the Conference of Rulers, in which the sultans, prime minister, and officials convene to discuss monarchical matters, may have already anticipated the abdication, and have decided on who will lead next.

Constitutional law expert Nizam Bashir Abdul Kariem Bashir told New Strait Times today that while the rules of succession are “intricate,” he expects an announcement soon.

Watch this space: We’ll keep you posted.



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