Royal history in the making

An event to remember: Information on Sultan Abdullah’s installation ceremony being displayed on an electronic screen in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

KUALA LUMPUR: Today, Malaysians will witness the historic installation of Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah of Pahang as the nation’s 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The installation ceremony will take place at Istana Negara in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim here in a ceremony steeped in tradition and splendour that is unique to Malaysia.The installation of Sultan Abdullah will also set in motion the second round of the rotational monarchy system first introduced in 1957 and usher in his five-year reign as King.

Sultan Abdullah succeeded Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan, who stepped down as the head of state on Jan 6.The installation ceremony is expected to begin at about 10am at the Balairong Seri of Istana Negara after the inspection of the royal guard of honour by Sultan Abdullah.

Some 700 guests comprising the Rulers, Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers, ambassadors and senior government officers will be attending the ceremony, which will be broadcast live.The royal guests will include the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al-Nahyan.

On this historic occasion, the rakyat will get the opportunity to see the Yang di-Pertuan Agong dressed in his royal ceremonial attire, the muskat – a long black robe adorned with finely-stitched gold embroidery.

The particular muskat to be worn by Sultan Abdullah is special as its design is inspired by the muskat worn by his late father, Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah, when he was installed as the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1979.

One for the album: a woman taking a wefie with her daughter as palace guards monitor the crowd outside Istana Negara.

Also unique is the royal headdress to be worn by Sultan Abdullah known as the Tengkolok Diraja, which is made of black songket and embroidered with gold thread.

The headdress is the same tengkolok worn by his father when he was installed as the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Among the other interesting features of the ceremony are a traditional musical performance by the 10-member Terengganu Royal Nobat Ensemble and the use of a 208-year-old gamelan set.The gamelan set was the first to be brought into the country in 1811 and is of great significance to the Pahang royal institution.

Gamelan dance and music, also known as joget Pahang, became popular in the Pahang royal court during the reign of Sultan Ahmad Al-Mu’adzam Shah.

Sultan Abdullah was proclaimed the sixth Sultan of Pahang on Jan 15, succeeding his father.

He was elected as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong at a special meeting of the Conference of Rulers on Jan 24 and was sworn in on Jan 31.

The installation today is also historically significant because Sultan Abdullah and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, are both children of Sultans who have been elected as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Sultan Abdullah is the eldest son of the late Sultan Ahmad Shah, who was the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1979 to 1984.

Tunku Azizah is the third daughter of the late Sultan Iskandar ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail of Johor, the eighth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (1984-1989).

Also of historical significance is the role of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was the prime minister during Sultan Ahmad Shah’s reign and had subsequently proclaimed Sultan Iskandar as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.