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.