SHOUTS OF ‘DAULAT TUNKU’ ALREADY HEARD AS PAHANG ROYAL COUNCIL CONCLUDE KEY MEETING, WHICH DISGRACED EX-PM NAJIB ALSO ATTENDED – BUT IS IT FOR SURE PAHANG REGENT WILL BECOME THE NEXT AGONG?

KUALA LUMPUR – They met for about four hours at the Pahang Royal Council meeting. Whether or not the Regent of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah will ascend the throne will only be known today.

Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak briefly told this to newsmen after the meeting ended at about 7.30pm yesterday.

“On any decision made today, it will be announced tomorrow at Istana Abu Bakar, Pekan, at 3pm. That is all,” said the newly-minted Pahang state secretary.

The meeting, which was held in a hotel here, started at around 4pm. It was chaired by Tengku Abdullah.

After the meeting concluded, chants of Daulat Tuanku were heard three times from the room. Then, Tengku Abdullah and the others left the meeting.

Tengku Abdullah and those present at the meeting then posed for a photo session. Tengku Abdullah’s wife, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Iskandar, was looking emotional as she wiped her eyes a few times.

She also hugged her in-laws who are part of the council.

Meeting of minds: Tengku Abdullah, accompanied by his children, attending the Pahang Royal Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

When the media members asked the Regent if he would ascend the throne, Tengku Abdullah merely replied: “Oh no, you must take one thing at a time.”

However, when one reporter wished Tengku Abdullah “congratulations”, the Regent politely said: “Thank you.”

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was also present at the meeting. The former prime minister is one of four Orang Besar Berempat of the Council. He left before the photo session.

Before entering the meeting room, Tengku Abdullah had said “doakan yang terbaik” (pray for the best), after greeting media personnel who were waiting for him.

There has been talk about Sultan Ahmad Shah’s abdication as the Sultan of Pahang to make way for his son, Tengku Abdullah.

Tengku Abdullah’s appointment could pave way the way for him to be one of the likely candidates for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s post.

The selection of the next King has become a much-discussed topic after Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan stepped down as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 6.

The Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad said the next King would take his oath of office on Jan 31.

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 respectively.

It is understood that Sultan Ahmad Shah, 88, is unwell.

Before the meeting commenced, Dr Sallehuddin, who was the former Department of Lands and Mines director-general, was installed as the Pahang state secretary.

Dr Sallehuddin took his oath before Tengku Abdullah and signed the appointment letter before the Regent.

Dr Sallehuddin came into office on Jan 7.

Tengku Abdullah, in his brief speech, congratulated Dr Sallehuddin on his appointment and advised him to carry out his duties and responsibilities to look after the welfare of the people of Pahang.

Tengku Abdullah also thanked the former state secretary Datuk Seri Muhammad Safian Ismail for his services.

Those who also witnessed the ceremony was Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. – ANN

Shouts of ‘Daulat Tuanku’ as Pahang royal council meets for 3 hours

KUALA LUMPUR: Shouts of “Daulat Tuanku” (“Long Live the Sultan”) were heard nearing the end of the meeting of the Pahang Royal Council at a hotel here today.

The meeting started at 4pm and only ended at 7.30pm.

It is understood that the meeting was held to get the council’s consent for the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, to be proclaimed as the new sultan of the state.

Speculation has been rife that the current ruler, Sultan Ahmad Shah, who has been ill for some time, may abdicate to make way for his son Tengku Abdullah, who has been Regent since Dec 28, 2016.

There is also a lot of speculation as to who will be the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong following the decision by Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan to step down as King on Jan 6.

Going by the rotation system, the Sultan of Pahang is next in line.

Tengku Abdullah chaired today’s meeting, which was also attended by other Pahang royalty, Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, state executive councillors as well as the Orang Besar Berempat.

The meeting was held after Tengku Abdullah presented the letter of appointment to the new Pahang state secretary Salehuddin Ishak.

Salehuddin, who assumed the post on Jan 7, takes over from Muhammad Safian Ismail.

Members of the media gathered outside the meeting room heard shouts of “Daulat Tuanku” a few minutes before the door was opened.

Tengku Abdullah then had some pictures taken with members of his family and the Pahang Royal Council.

He thanked the media for waiting and said he had no comments to make.

Meanwhile, Salehuddin, when approached by reporters after the meeting, said an announcement on its outcome would be made at 3pm at Istana Abu Bakar, Pekan, tomorrow. – FMT

THE STAR / FMT