Come Oct 29, the nation will witness the election of the country’s 17th King since it attained independence over six decades ago.
The election is stipulated under the Federal Constitution to elect the new King and his deputy under a five-year term.
Only the nine Rulers who are members of the Conference of Rulers can take part in the secret balloting. There is no such thing as a proxy vote.
However, while there is an election, the process is also based on a rotation agreed upon by the Rulers.
It is both a tradition and a convention which has been respected and upheld in the institution.
According to reports, the first cycle of the rotation, from 1957 – when the office of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was established – to 1994, saw Negri Sembilan at the top of the election list, followed by Selangor, Perlis, Terengganu, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Johor and Perak.
The term of the present King, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, will end on Jan 31 next year.
So, the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong will be the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar.
The deputy will be the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah.
The Rulers place great respect on tradition and precedence to the institution and its time-held process of picking a King.
While there is an election, the Rulers are unlike ordinary politicians. The royal institution certainly must be respected and honoured in every way.
It’s fair to say that the royal institution is the only one which Malaysians have high regard and respect for.
Although the Rulers are viewed as the custodians and protectors of Islam and the Malays, they have all displayed fairness and moderation to all Malaysians, regardless of their race or religion.
His Majesty the Sultan of Johor has been an outspoken and forthright Ruler, who has been consistent in his views on the need to protect the unity of the people, in particular his Bangsa Johor.
Sultan Ibrahim is certainly one who isn’t afraid to point out what’s wrong and what needs to be corrected.
For sure, under his rule, it won’t be business as usual.
Malaysians look forward to his reign as the next Yang di- Pertuan Agong and we are confident His Majesty will bring the needed change for peace and harmony.
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Wong Chun Wai
Wong Chun Wai began his career as a journalist in Penang, and has served The Star for over 35 years in various capacities and roles. He is now group editorial and corporate affairs adviser to the group, after having served as group managing director/chief executive officer. On The Beat made its debut on Feb 23 1997 and Chun Wai has penned the column weekly without a break, except for the occasional press holiday when the paper was not published. In May 2011, a compilation of selected articles of On The Beat was published as a book and launched in conjunction with his 50th birthday. Chun Wai also comments on current issues in The Star.
