Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar of Johor was installed as the XVII Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) in a Istiadat Melafaz Ceremony during the 264th Meeting of the Conference of Rulers at the Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur on January 31st, following the departure of the Sultan of Pahang at the end of his five-year Tenure. Malaysia is the world’s only rotational monarchy, where the Hereditary Rulers of Nine of the Malay States are elected as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) for a 5-year term by the Conference of Rulers. The new Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong are set to reign until 2029.
The Sultan of Johor departed Istana Bukit Serene in Johor Bahru in the morning of January 31st, boarding a flight at the Royal Terminal of Senai International Airport following an Official Departure Ceremony.
On arrival in Kuala Lumpur, the Sultan of Johor was received at Subang Air Base by the Raja Muda of Selangor, as well as dignitaries, members of the Government, the Armed Forces and the Royal Court, before reviewing the Guard of Honour.
At the Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur, the Sultans, Governors and Regents had gathered for the 264th Meeting of the Majlis Raja-Raja, where in a Istiadat Melafaz Ceremony, the Sultan of Johor signed an Oath in the Pertuan Agong to become the XVII Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, followed by a Declaration in front of the Supreme Court.
Sultan Ibrahim was joined by Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah (who is now the Raja Permaisuri Agong) and members of the extended Johor Royal Family as well as members of Royal Families from around Malaysia. The new King is the elder brother of the outgoing Tunku Azizah Aminah, the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang.
Sultan Abdullah Ria’yatuddin Al Mustafa Billah Shah, The Sultan of Pahang and Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) and Tunku Azizah Aminah, the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang and Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) departed Kuala Lumpur with a Istiadat Keberangkatan Balik Ceremony at the end of their five-year tenure as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) and Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) on January 30th.
After leaving the Istana Negara for the final time, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) and Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) for a Military Ceremony at the Parliament Square in Kuala Lumpur.
Following a big ceremony at the Airport, King and Queen of Malaysia departed Kuala Lumpur on a special aircraft accompanied by two F/A-18D Hornet TUDM fighter planes.
Upon arrival in Pahang, the Sultan and Tengku Ampuan of Pahang were received by members of their family at the airport, ahead of a grand Welcome Ceremony and a review of the Guard of Honour.
Tunku Azizah Aminah, the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang and Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) wore the Gandik Diraja Tiara and the Kalung Diraja Necklace for the final time, along with the outfit she had worn for their arrival in Kuala Lumpur in 2019.
The Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) joined the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) for their Farewell Banquet hosted by the Malaysian Government in Kuala Lumpur on January 27th, ahead of the end of the King’s Tenure as Yang di-Pertuan Agong on January 30th.
Sultan Abdullah Ria’yatuddin Al Mustafa Billah Shah, The Sultan of Pahang and Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) and Tunku Azizah Aminah, the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang and Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) attended the spectacular National Banquet hosted by Malaysian Government in Kuala Lumpur to mark the end of the 5-year tenure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong have a heartfelt speech, during which he was moved to tears:
Insya-Allah, if there are no other obstacles or more “other moves” in the next two days, I will complete my reign with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Naturally, everything that begins must end, and every meeting must have a parting. Therefore, the time has come for me and Raja Permaisuri Agong to step down.
I will leave for Pahang with mixed feelings of sadness, happiness and gratitude because I have carried out this trust to the best of my ability and the sincerity of my heart.
The question of whether I was successful or not is not for me to evaluate. Let history judge,
It never crossed my mind that I would have to undertake the duty of appointing three prime ministers and to guide the country out of uncertainty. We do not make changes, just for the sake of making them. Changing the prime minister every year doesn’t guarantee anything. It’s the people who will suffer, the economy will decline and eventually the country will become unstable,
I would be deeply saddened if the unity that has been forged were to crumble again due to our weaknesses and negligence.
To my beloved Raja Permaisuri Agong, I am truly fortunate to have won your heart 38 years ago, and I am grateful and proud that you have also captured the hearts of Malaysians over the past five years.
Like Khadijah, who devoted her entire life to supporting the struggle of the Prophet (Muhammad), so too have you, my dear, tirelessly provided encouragement and inspiration for me to fulfil this heavy responsibility
With a sense of humility and gratitude, I express my thanks to Allah SWT for all the blessings, well-being, and glory that He has bestowed on this servant of Yours
Tunku Azizah Aminah, the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang and Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) wore the Gandik Diraja Tiara and the Kalung Diraja Necklace for the second last time.
Earlier this month, the King and Queen attended a Customary Banquet of Appreciation at the Wisma Perwira Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, with guests from all three branches of the Malaysian Armed Forces, as well as presiding over an Investiture Ceremony among a series of events making the end of the King’s Reign.
We had the pleasure of meeting Queen Azizah twice last year, in London, when she held ‘Abstract Nature’, an interactive exhibition that highlighted traditional Malaysian Heritage Crafts and Techniques at the Malaysian High Commission in London.
