New King to be chosen tomorrow
Royal arrival: Sultan Ibrahim (seated, right) and Pahang Ruler Sultan Ahmad Shah arriving on a special buggy at the 242nd meeting of the Conference of Rulers, accompanied by Sultan Muhammad V (far right, in red tie) and the rest of the Rulers with their heads of states, at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: A special meeting of the Conference of Rulers will be held tomorrow to select the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The current Yang di-Pertuan Agong is Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, the Sultan of Kedah, whose five-year term as King from Dec 13, 2011 ends on Dec 12.
Yesterday, Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar chaired the 242nd Meeting of the Conference of Rulers at Istana Negara here.
The meeting was attended by all the royal Malay Rulers accompanied by their respective Mentris Besar, while the Yang di-Pertua Negris of Malacca, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak were accompanied by their respective chief ministers.
The Conference will also bid farewell to Tuanku Abdul Halim, 88, who made history as the only Sultan who has been King twice in his lifetime.
Based on the rotation system set by the Conference of Rulers, Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan is the next in line as the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
There are several factors weighed by the Conference of Rulers in selecting the succeeding Yang di-Pertuan Agong, such as the candidate agreeing to the appointment and the state of his physical and mental health.
The candidate should also be a state Ruler who is backed by at least five other Rulers and someone who has not held the post of Yang di-Pertuan Agong for two consecutive terms.
In the normal process, before the selection process begins the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal will ask the next in line in the list if he is prepared to be chosen as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The nine royal Rulers will vote through secret ballots and if the candidate receives at least five votes, he will officially be the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The process is repeated for the post of Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who will act on behalf of the King during His Majesty’s absence or illness.
