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84-year-old Sinatra fan becomes king
Source: Agencies |
December 14, 2011, Wednesday
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An 84-year-old sultan known as an avid fan of football and singers such as Frank Sinatra became Malaysia's new king yesterday, the oldest constitutional monarch in the southeast Asian nation's history.
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah took his oath of office in a ceremony attended by hundreds of dignitaries in the new federal palace in Kuala Lumpur.
Under a unique system since Malaysia's independence from Britain in 1957, nine hereditary state rulers take turns as king for five-year terms.
The monarch's role is largely ceremonial, since administrative power is vested in the prime minister and parliament. But he is highly regarded, particularly among the ethnic Malay Muslim majority, as the supreme upholder of Malay tradition and symbolic head of Islam.
"The king is the umbrella to the people and the people are the pillars of the king," Sultan Abdul Halim said in comments issued through the national news agency, Bernama. "The king's greatest role is to ensure there will be no cruelty and destruction to the people and to the country."
The king's roles include appointing cabinet ministers and senior judges on the advice of the prime minister. He also appoints top Islamic clerics and is considered the highest-ranking figure in the armed forces.
Public criticism of the king and state sultans is virtually illegal.
Sultan Abdul Halim, an avid golfer and sports fan, is the constitutional ruler of the northern Kedah state.
Besides being Malaysia's 14th and oldest king, Sultan Abdul Halim is the first to ascend the throne twice. He was king between 1970 and 1975.
Sultan Abdul Halim is in robust health. In 2006, he walked a kilometer to watch his state's football team after his car was caught in traffic.
He has been described by his family as a fan of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Nat King Cole.
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah took his oath of office in a ceremony attended by hundreds of dignitaries in the new federal palace in Kuala Lumpur.
Under a unique system since Malaysia's independence from Britain in 1957, nine hereditary state rulers take turns as king for five-year terms.
The monarch's role is largely ceremonial, since administrative power is vested in the prime minister and parliament. But he is highly regarded, particularly among the ethnic Malay Muslim majority, as the supreme upholder of Malay tradition and symbolic head of Islam.
"The king is the umbrella to the people and the people are the pillars of the king," Sultan Abdul Halim said in comments issued through the national news agency, Bernama. "The king's greatest role is to ensure there will be no cruelty and destruction to the people and to the country."
The king's roles include appointing cabinet ministers and senior judges on the advice of the prime minister. He also appoints top Islamic clerics and is considered the highest-ranking figure in the armed forces.
Public criticism of the king and state sultans is virtually illegal.
Sultan Abdul Halim, an avid golfer and sports fan, is the constitutional ruler of the northern Kedah state.
Besides being Malaysia's 14th and oldest king, Sultan Abdul Halim is the first to ascend the throne twice. He was king between 1970 and 1975.
Sultan Abdul Halim is in robust health. In 2006, he walked a kilometer to watch his state's football team after his car was caught in traffic.
He has been described by his family as a fan of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Nat King Cole.
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