Sultan Abdullah’s last pre-Cabinet meeting as King

PETALING JAYA: Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had his last pre-Cabinet meeting yesterday in his capacity as the nation’s Yang di-Pertuan Agong with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

His Majesty’s term as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong ends on Jan 30, after which he returns to Pahang to resume his duties as the Sultan of Pahang.

That role is currently being handled by Sultan Abdullah’s eldest son and heir to the Pahang throne Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

Since becoming the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah has attended 160 pre-Cabinet meetings with four different prime ministers: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Anwar.

Also at the meeting was Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zaki Ali.

These weekly meetings are for the prime minister to brief the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on policy matters that will be brought up during the actual Cabinet meeting and to discuss other national developments.

Once Sultan Abdullah’s term ends at the end of the month, Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar will assume his role as the nation’s 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.