Malaysia installs new king as head of state

Singapore, Apr 26: Malaysia today installed a new King as head of the state in a ceremony steeped in custom and tradition of the Malay rulers at Balairong Seri of Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur.

Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, 45, the Sultan of Trengganu state on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, became the 13th Yang di- Pertuan Agong or the King.

Tuanku Mizan, in his pledge inscribed in Jawi on a goat hide, vowed to govern the nation with utmost fairness in accordance with provisions in the Federal Constitution and uphold Islam.

The King said he would ensure a just and peaceful administration.

Tuanku Mizan was elected by the nine Malay Rulers at the 208th Conference of Rulers meeting at Istana Negara on November 3, 2006, succeeding the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail, whose five-year term ended on December 12, 2006.

Tuanku Mizan took the oath of office as the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong for a five-year term at a ceremony in Istana Negara on December 13 last year.

It is a normal practice for the installation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to be held separately from the oath-taking, according to a report by the Malaysian national news agency, Bernama.

UNI