Tuanku Abdul Halim Arrives For Swearing In Ceremony As 14th Malaysian King

SEPANG (Malaysia), Dec 13 (Bernama) -- The Sultan of Kedah Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah arrived at the national capital Tuesday morning for a swearing-in ceremony as the 14th Malaysian King. Tuanku Abdul Halim and Sultanah Haminah Hamidun earlier arrived at the Bunga Raya Complex of KL International Airport at 9.07am from Alor Setar where they were greeted on arrival by Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim and wife Maznah Rais. Twenty-nine officers of the Sixth Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment mounted a static guard at the airport. The royal couple the proceeded to Parliament Square in Kuala Lumpur for a royal welcoming ceremony. Tuanku Abdul Halim, 84, was elected the 14th King for a five-year period effective Tuesday, at the Meeting of the Conference of Rulers on Oct 14. This is the second time Tuanku Abdul Halim was elected as King after the first one on Sept 21, 1970. Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V was elected the Deputy King. The royal herald, comprising 20 personnel of the Second Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corp, sounded the trumpet to announce the arrival of Tuanku Abdul Halim and Sultanah Haminah at Parliament Square. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Norainee Abdul Rahman greeted the royal couple on arrival. Tuanku Abdul Halim and Sultanah Haminah were then ushered to the dais, passing a royal spear guard force. This was soon followed by the royal salute performance. The national anthem "Negaraku" was then played by the Royal Malay Regiment band led by Lt Nor Azizan Yahaya. Simultaneously, the personal colour of the King was raised, to the blast of a 21-gun salute. Tuanku Abdul Halim then inspected the guard-of-honour comprising 103 personnel of the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment led by Major Muhammad Abdullah. The national ceremony proceeded with the recital of prayers by Federal Territory mufti Wan Zahidi Wan Teh. This was followed by the royal salute and the singing of Negaraku. The royal couple then granted audience to cabinet ministers and senior officials before proceeding to National Palace in Jalan Duta for the swearing-in ceremony as the King. Earlier in Alor Setar, 30,000 people joined the royal procession to the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, marking Tuanku Abdul Halim's departure from Anak Bukit Palace to National Palace. The royal couple, accompanied by a motorcade, arrived at the airport at 7.30am, with people from all walks of life lining up both sides of the 5.3km road. They were greeted on arrival by Chief Minister Azizan Abdul Razak and wife Faekah Sheikh Hamzah, as well as members of the Kedah Council of Regency. -- BERNAMA