Malaysia’s King Sultan Muhammad V has stepped down from his throne on Sunday, after completing his two-year leadership, the very first time a monarch has resigned before completing their five-year ruling.
In an official statement, the national palace said the King’s decision to resign took effect immediately. No details of his resignation were provided and the palace officials also refused to respond to a request for comment.
According to BBC news reports, the King had, a week ago, resumed his duties after being on two-month medical leave. In the month of December, social media emerged with images alleging that he is getting married in Russia. However, the palace refused to comment over King’s photos or any alleged reports of him getting married.
Supposed pictures of the ceremony show the 49-year old ruler was married this month to former Moscow beauty queen Oksana Voevodina, 25. #Malaysia PM #Mahathir says can't confirm if the King has married https://t.co/8kQtic81Ap @chedetofficial
— Rosalind Mathieson (@RosMathieson) November 30, 2018
“His Majesty tells the people of Malaysia to continue to be united to maintain unity, tolerance, and work together,” a statement from the palace said.
Malaysia considered as a constitutional monarchy and thus the King assumed a largely ceremonial role, including as a guardian of Islam in the Muslim-majority country. However, the acceptance of King is needed before the appointment of senior public officials or a prime minister.
Malaysia has nine royal households, who holds turns to sit on the throne, and through the Council of Rulers voting, the next king of the country is being decided, made up of those nine royal households.
The national palace statement stated that the King, who voted as the king in December 2016, felt grateful for such an opportunity to sit on throne given by the council of rulers and also thanked country’s prime minister and its government for their cooperation with him during his ruling.
The palace statement stated: “His Highness has worked towards fulfilling his responsibilities entrusted to him as the head of state, serving as a pillar of stability, the source of justice, the core of unity … for the people.”