KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): A special meeting of the Conference of the Malay Rulers to elect the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong and his deputy will be convened on Jan 24, according to the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad.

He said the matter was decided by the rulers in their meeting at 10.30am today at Istana Negara, which also fixed Jan 31 for the swearing in of the new King and his deputy.

The meeting today was attended by the Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Raja Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah and Sultan of Kedah Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah.  

The meeting was convened following Sultan Muhammad V stepping down as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, effective yesterday.

Syed Danial in his statement said the Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah could not attend the meeting due to ill health while the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah is overseas.

According to Syed Danial, the Malay rulers present took cognisance and respected Sultan Muhammad V’s decision to step down as King.

They also recorded their highest appreciation to Sultan Muhammad V for fulfilling the trust placed in His Majesty during his tenure from Dec 13, 2016 till Jan 6,  2019, he added.