Experts: Raja Muda the likely successor

Datuk Seri Diraja Tan Sri Tunku Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, the Chairman of Kedah Council of Regency who is also Tunku Temenggong Kedah was seen inspecting the guard of honour comprising of 105 personnel including 3 officers and 102 ran & file members of the Cheras Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) , Kuala Lumpur during the opening ceremony of the 2nd Term of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly Meeting which was held at Wisma Darul Aman in Alor Setar, Kedah yesterday.(Captioned by photographer G.C.TAN / THE STAR - 11th August 2014)

PETALING JAYA: The Raja Muda of Kedah (pic) is the likely successor to take over as the next Sultan of Kedah, constitutional and legal experts said.

National Council of Professors history, heritage and socio-culture cluster head Prof Datuk Dr Teo Kok Seong said the Raja Muda is the natural choice.

“Since the late Sultan of Kedah Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah was back in the state after a stint at the Istana Negara, Almarhum, with the advice of the Kedah Regency Council, has chosen the Raja Muda, who is also his blood brother, since Almarhum has no son.

The Royal Committee on the Funeral Ceremony, at a meeting, decided that the lying in state would be held at the Dewan Penghadapan at Istana Anak Bukit today to enable the public to pay their last respects from 11am to 12.30pm. Dignitaries would pay their last respects between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.

A former Kedah state legal adviser, who declined to be named, said that usually, after the passing of a Ruler, a meeting of the Majlis Mengangkat Raja (Royal Succession Committee) will be convened to determine the successor, in line with provisions under the state constitution.

“The committee members will determine the successor and normally, the meeting will be presided over by the mentri besar,” he said.