Agong hopes Anwar will be his final PM appointment before term ends

Wednesday 01 May 2024

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 13): The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who began his five-year reign on Jan 31, 2019, hopes that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be his final prime minister appointment before the monarch’s tenure ends next year.

In his opening speech in Parliament on Monday (Feb 13), Al-Sultan Abdullah said he was the only king in the nation’s history that had reigned over four prime ministers and their respective administrations.

“Let me recount (cerita) a little bit,” said the King, followed by a round of laughter by Members of Parliament. as he recalled the political crises and the PMs he had appointed over the past few years — including Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Anwar — following the resignation of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2020.

“We hope that the 10th PM will be the last one for us, before we return to the state of Pahang Darul Makmur,” said Al-Sultan Abdullah.

“There is an old Malay saying, which reminds us that ‘if an ox is held by its rope, a man is held to his word’. On Jan 31, 2019, we swore an oath to truly and faithfully perform our duties in the administration of Malaysia in accordance with its laws and the Federal Constitution.

“In reality, we only fulfilled the trust and promises mandated as what we had pronounced and pledged. We had no intention of interfering in the nation’s political affairs, let alone arrange its political landscape,” he said.

Al-Sultan Abdullah believes that if the episode that led to the resignation of the seventh PM — Mahathir — had not occured, the chain of political upheavals that continued until the 15th general election could also have been avoided.

“More importantly, the political turmoil that has plagued the country for almost four years can be avoided if the Honourable Members [of Parliament] and the nation’s politicians are willing to set aside their differences and unite for the sole purpose of safeguarding the interests of our people and the country that we love,” he said.

King emphasises unity ahead in his final advice to Dewan Rakyat

Al-Sultan Abdullah told the Dewan Rakyat that he will be relinquishing his position as the Agong on Jan 30 next year, and this was his final opening speech for the parliamentary session.

“Our last message to all Honourable Members is: do not have the presumption that people are indebted to our service, and therefore expect to be lauded. Instead, safeguard the good name and honour of this august House and serve wholeheartedly as representatives who always have our people and the future of the country close to your hearts,” he said.

The King also reiterated the importance of unity for Malaysia, which has acknowledged that the plurality and diversity that exist have been the main strength of the country over the past 66 years, since independence.

“At the age of 66, we as a nation should be mature enough to accept these unique differences as the main pillar in the formation of a Malaysian nation, with mutual respect and affection for one another, [and be] tolerant and live in unity,” he said.

The monarch cautioned: “If diversity, pluralism, and political upheavals continue to cause strife and division, we are concerned that the peace and progress that we yearn for will forever elude us.

“Set aside narrow political agendas and come together in the name of unity. The stability of the political landscape through the bonds of unity of the Honourable Members should be used as a manifestation in forming the Malaysian nation and a glorious new era for Malaysia.

“We pray that Malaysia, together with the people whom we love, will continue to live in harmony on the basis of unity and always be under the protection of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala,” said Al-Sultan Abdullah before ending his speech.

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Edited ByLam Jian Wyn & Aniza Damis

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