Ceremony steeped in tradition

Sultan Muhammad V receiving the instrument of office of the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the 244th (Special) Meeting of the Conference of Rulers on Dec 13 last year. — Bernama

TODAY marks an important day in the nation’s history as it is the installation of Sultan Muhammad V as the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He replaced Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, who completed his term on Dec 12 last year.

To mark Sultan Muhammad V’s installation as the new King, the Government has declared today as a national holiday.

According to Bernama, the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa said that Section 8 of the Public Holidays Act 1951 (Act 369) allows the day of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s installation to be observed as a public holiday in peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

He said that for Sabah and Sarawak, the state governments have been directed to do the same in accordance with the respective state laws.

“The installation ceremony of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V will be conducted at Balairong Seri, Istana Negara, in Kuala Lumpur. There are two main events for the coronation ceremony.

Sultan Muhammad V taking his oath at the 244th (Special) Meeting of the Conference of Rulers. Looking on are the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir (left) and Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob (right). —Bernama

“This morning, the installation ceremony will be at the Balairong Seri while a royal banquet will be held tonight at Istana Negara’s Banquet Hall,” Ali Hamsa added.

A Yasin recital as well as doa selamat and solat hajat (prayers), was held on Friday at the Putra Mosque in Putrajaya, and an exhibition titled Our King will be held on May 2 at the Royal Museum (formerly Istana Negara) in conjunction with Sultan Muhammad V’s installation.

Sultan Muhammad V took his oath as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and signed the instrument of proclamation on Dec 14 last year at the Balairong Seri.

Both ceremonies were held during the 244th (Special) Meeting of the Conference of Rulers chaired by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, which also saw Perak Ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah take the oath of office as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak reading out the instrument of office of the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the 244th (Special) Meeting of the Conference of Rulers on Dec 13 last year. — Bernama

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak read out the Letter of Proclamation declaring that Sultan Muhammad V was the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Sultan Nazrin Shah, the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong, after the ceremonies.

Even before today’s installation ceremony, the King was already carrying out public duties after taking his oath.

He hosted a state banquet for the King of Saudi Arabia, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, during the monarch’s visit to Malaysia in February.

He also did the same for French president Francois Hollande during his visit to Malaysia last month.