Malaysia ushers in new generation of Muslim royals

KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 26 (Reuters) Malaysia proclaimed a new king, its second-youngest ever, in a glittering ceremony today, ushering in a new generation of devout Muslim royals.

Forty-five-year-old Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, of oil-rich Terengganu state, will rule for five years under Malaysia's unique system of rotating constitutional monarchy.

Wearing black robes and jewel-encrusted Malay head-dress for the ceremony at the national palace, the new king kissed the Koran and the royal kris, a traditional dagger, before taking the oath of office.

''I will hereby rule Malaysia in a fair manner in line with the constitution and the law,'' the sports-loving king said at the ceremony watched by Malaysia's royal and ruling elite.

Malaysia has nine sultans and each takes turn to rule for five years as king, but this time marks the coming of age of a younger generation of royals who are devout Muslims and much less interesting than their often eccentric, more liberal forebears.

A symbolic role, the king embodies Malaysia's heritage as a collection of Muslim kingdoms and also serves as titular head of the armed forces and keeper of the official religion, Islam.

Malaysia, where Muslims make up just over half its 26 million people, is a modern, moderate Muslim country. But since the 1980s, Islamic conservatism has steadily gained influence.

Malaysia has changed from a country where Muslim women generally did not wear headscarves into a nation where religious officials make police-style raids on nightclubs and hotel rooms.

Mizan's wife wears a headscarf, unlike previous queens.

The new king has also been more outspoken than many of his predecessors, publicly urging the government to wipe out corruption, seen by many Muslims as an affront against Islam.

Other young rulers have also begun to speak out on issues of governance. The Sultan of Selangor state recently reprimanded an errant town councillor for building his house without permits.

A far less colourful figure than some of his predecessors as king or his fellow sultans, Mizan attended Britain's Sandhurst Royal Military Academy and served as a land administrator before succeeding to the throne of Terengganu.

The royal family of southern Johor state has captured the most headlines over the years. Mahmood Iskandar, now the sultan of Johor and a former king, was once convicted of manslaughter but was pardoned by his father who was then the sultan.

Mizan is Malaysia's 13th king, or Yang di-Pertuan Agong, since the country gained independence from Britain in 1957. He replaced Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail, ruler of Perlis state.

REUTERS AM RS0936