Malaysia crowns new king under rotational monarchy
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Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia on Wednesday installed its 14th kingin a pomp-filled ceremony steeped in the centuries-old royaltradition of the predominantly Muslim South-East Asian country.
The installation ceremony of Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, 84,was held for the first time in the newly built palace Istana Negarain the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.
It was the second time Tuanku Abdul Halim, ruler of the northernstate of Kedah, was installed as a king under a five-year rotationsystem among the rulers of nine Malay states. He was first crowned in1970.
Malaysia has been a constitutional monarchy, in which the kingholds a mainly ceremonial role in the affairs of the nation, since itgained its independence in 1957. Prior to 1957, it was the nine Malayrulers - eight of whom inherit their positions and one of whom iselected - who held the reins of local power in each state.
Despite his largely ceremonial role, Malaysia's king is highlyrespected by the public, especially by Malays, who comprise 60 percent of the country's more than 28 million people.
The new king, who studied at Oxford in his youth, is also thesymbolic head of Islam in the country and the nominal head of thearmed forces.
Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim saidspecial programmes and events would be held until April 21 throughoutthe country to celebrate the crowning of the new king.//DPA
