THE Sultan of Johor has expressed his readiness to carry out his national duties for the country and people, as well as his willingness to shoulder the responsibility.
“It is not a promotion. It is a responsibility I am prepared to undertake on behalf of my brother Rulers,” Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar explained during an exclusive interview with the Bernama team led by its chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai at His Majesty’s private residence.
“My top priority would always be the welfare of the people and the rakyat (people) will always come first,” Sultan Ibrahim said.
According to Bernama, the Rulers are expected to choose the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Oct 27 under a unique election system, but they are likely to uphold the rotation system of electing the new King from among the nine Rulers.
Only the nine Rulers who are members of the Conference of Rulers can take part in the secret balloting and to be named the next King, a candidate must receive a minimum of five votes.
However, while there is an election, the process is also based on a rotation agreed upon by the Rulers. It is both a tradition and a convention which has been respected and upheld in the institution.
The nine Malay Rulers are the Rulers from Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Terengganu.
The first cycle of the rotation, from 1957 – when the office of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was established – to 1994, saw Negri Sembilan at the top of the election list, followed by Selangor, Perlis, Terengganu, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Johor and Perak.
The five-year reign of the current King, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, will end on Jan 31 next year.
Based on this rotation, the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong will be the Sultan of Johor while the deputy will be the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah. – Sept 22, 2023
Main pic credit: Facebook/ Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar
