PEKAN: Pahang Crown Prince Tengku Abdullah has been proclaimed as the Sixth Sultan of Pahang, effective immediately, succeeding his father Sultan Ahmad Shah.
The announcement was made by Tengku Muda Pahang Tengku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ahmad Shah at Istana Abu Bakar here, accompanied by his brother Tengku Fahd Mua’adzam Sultan Ahmad Shah, who is Tengku Arif Temenggong Pahang, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, State Secretary Datuk Seri Salehuddin Ishak, members of the royal family and the state administration.
Tengku Abdul Rahman said the proclamation ceremony to install his brother Tengku Abdullah as the new Sultan will be held at 11am this Tuesday at Istana Abu Bakar.
“With sadness and sorrow, we the family accept the fact that our father can no longer carry out his duties. Realising this, we agreed to suggest to the Pahang Royal Council that my elder brother be appointed as the successor to my father as Sultan of Pahang,” he said.
Tengku Abdul Rahman said the proposal to appoint Tengku Abdullah as the new Sultan was made because his father Sultan Ahmad Shah is gravely ill.
He said the proposal on the succession was forwarded to the Pahang Royal Council which met in Kuala Lumpur on Friday after a discussion was held among the royal family members and it was unanimously agreed to by the council.
Tengku Abdul Rahman said the Pahang Royal Council meeting on Friday had approved an amendment to Part 1 of Article 9 A of the state constitution to give the Pahang Royal Council the power to ask the ruler to abdicate due to his grave illness, effective yesterday (Jan 11).
He said during the deliberations on the amendment, Sultan Abdullah, as one of the council members, had excused himself from the meeting. Once a decision was made, it was then presented to him for his consent.
“I am confident that my brother will be an efficient, active and fair Sultan, no less than my father ... as my father has educated him well with all the training and guidance and Sultan Abdullah has been carrying out his duties as the Pahang Regent,” he said.
He said following the announcement, Sultan Abdullah decreed that their father, Sultan Ahmad Shah, would henceforth be referred to as Duli Yang Maha Mulia Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah.
Tengku Abdul Rahman said Pahang was undergoing an extraordinary challenge following his father’s condition.
“As you are aware, my father is undergoing medical treatment. On behalf of the family, I would like to express my appreciation for the Pahang people who have prayed for the wellbeing of my beloved father.
“I would also like to thank all the specialists, doctors, and medical teams that have served and taken really good care of my father.
Tengku Abdullah’s installation as the sixth Sultan of Pahang will effectively pave the way for his election as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, based on the rotation system.
Tengku Abdul Rahman, however, said the issue concerning the appointment of the next King was not discussed by the council in its meeting yesterday.
“This (appointment of the Sultan) is a state affair....(the) appointment of Agong depends on the Council of Rulers....that is beyond our boundary,” he said
The Council of Rulers is scheduled to hold a special meeting on Jan 24 to choose the next King, following the resignation of the Sultan Muhammad V.
After the Sultan of Kelantan, the next in line in the rotation of the nine Malay rulers are the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan of Johor and Sultan of Perak, successively.