Malaysian king steps down in colorful ceremony
Malaysian king steps down in colorful ceremony
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysia's King Azlan Shah stepped down yesterday to make way for a fellow sultan under the country's unique system of rotating monarchs, which has been weakened in recent years by rows with the government.
Azlan retired from the throne in an elaborate ceremony at the national parliament where he was accompanied by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, the man most responsible for reducing the sultans' royal privileges.
Walking side by side with Mahathir, who was in a white military-style uniform festooned with medals, the king inspected a royal guard of honor.
Dressed in regal black and wearing a black and gold silk head- dress mounted with the national symbol -- an Islamic crescent and an 11-point diamond-studded platinum star -- he bade a formal farewell to Mahathir's cabinet.
The royal kris sword, whose distinctive wavy blade is believed to confer power on its owner, was tucked into his waist band for the last time.
Azlan then shook hands with ambassadors dressed in morning coats or their formal national dress, before leaving in a Rolls Royce for the airport to return to his home state of Perak, where he resumes his position as sultan.
Malaysia's nine hereditary sultans take turns as king every five years. With Azlan's retirement, a cycle has been completed.
Tuanku Jaafar Tuanku Abdul Rahman will be sworn in today as the 10th Yang Dipertuan Agong, or supreme sovereign, since the constitutional monarchy began in 1957 with Malaysia's independence from Britain.
Jaafar's father, Abdul Rahman Mohamad, was the first of the rotating kings. His coronation ceremony will probably be held in July, officials said.
Azlan's term as king was marked by a debilitating row with the government over the privileges of royalty in fast-developing Malaysia.
Constitutionally, the sultans play a symbolic role as protectors of the politically dominant Malays and guardians of Islam in this multiracial country of 19 million people.
Their real power has been much greater. Most are very wealthy, and have had some say over the awarding of government contracts and business permits.
In late 1992 a torrent of unprecedented government and media criticism was unleashed against the rulers after a school hockey coach accused the Sultan of Johor and his bodyguards of beating him up.
Parliament censured Johor Sultan Mahmood Iskandar -- who was once convicted of manslaughter but pardoned by his father who was then the sultan -- and enacted constitutional amendments stripping the nine rulers of their immunity.
Under the new law, which came into effect last year, the rulers can be prosecuted in a special court for criminal offenses. If found guilty and sentenced to more than a day in jail, they would have to give up their thrones.
Around the same time, an official Islamic council issued a decree saying the public should not show excessive respect to the rulers or "use words normally reserved for the Almighty".
Customs officers seized expensive luxury cars illegally imported by royal families.
Azlan Shah, 65, whose silver mane of hair, distinguished good looks and impeccable dress made him one of the most recognizable figures in Malaysia, was the Lord President of the Supreme Court when he took over as king.