Although it is Queen Margrethe II of Denmark who has received the most attention on the Royal scene at the start of 2024 after her bombshell abdication announcement a change of ruler is also taking place somewhere else in January this year. Sultan Abdullah of Pahang, who has also served as the King of Malaysia for the last five years, has reached the end of his term as Head of State of Malaysia. In end of January he will step down as King and return back to Pahang. The baton, or rather sceptre, is passed on to the Sultan of Johor who will become the next King of Malaysia. Contrary to the Danish Queen’s decision the switch in Malaysia has very much been expected. In fact ever since the Sultan of Pahang was elected to be the King of Malaysia it was known that he would only hold the office for five years. That is the term any Malaysian King sits according to the country’s constitution before a new King is elected among the rulers of the Royal States that are part of the Malaysian federation.
So the preparations for the Sultan of Pahang’s end as King have been under way for some time already. Part of the celebrations was a banquet of appreciation hosted by the Malaysian Defence Force on 8th January. The King wore his dress mess uniform consisting of a white tunic and black trousers with yellow stripes and a wide red belt. Pinned to his tunic he wore the Breast Stars of the Order of the Royal Family of Malaysia, the Order of the Crown of the Realm and the Royal Family Order of Pahang. He also wore the red Sash of the Order of the Royal Family of Malaysia and the Neck-tie of the Order of Military Service.
His Majesty was accompanied by his wife. The Queen had chosen not to wear a tiara to this banquet although the dress code was quite formal. Instead Her Majesty wore a magnificent Diamond fringe necklace. This is the same necklace that the Queen wore to the coronation of Charles III last year. She was also seen wearing a large brooch of two flowers with scroll motif at the top and bottom, all set with sparkling Diamonds.
Also present from His Majesty’s family were two of his sons and two of his daughters. While the Sultan has served as King of Malaysia in the capital his son and heir the Tengku Mahkota Pahang (“Crown Prince of Pahang”) Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah has acted as Regent back in the Sultanate of Pahang. This night, though, His Royal Highness was present in the banqueting hall to celebrate his father. He was dressed in his dress mess uniform of a Captain wearing the Sash and Breast Star of the Family Order of the Crown of Indra of Pahang (Member 1st Class, 2019). His younger brother Tengku Ahmad Ismail Mu’adzam Shah was also there together with his sisters Princesses Tengku Puteri Ilisha Ameera and Tengku Puteri Ilyana.
In the banqueting hall the head table had been decorated with beautiful flowers and a large emblem of the Malaysian Defence Force was placed in the front centre. The King with his Queen to his left took his seat in the centre. To his right sat his son and heir followed by the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Forces General Mohammad bin Ab Rahman. The Minister of Defence of Malaysia wore his ceremonial uniform with the Sash and Breast Star of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (Grand Knight, 2006). He also wore the Neck-tie and Breast Star of the Order of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor (Grand Knight, 2015) and the Breast Star of the Order of the Crown of Johor (Knight Grand Commander, 2013).
This page has some great photos from the event:
Earlier in the day the King had been present at the military review organized by the defence forces.
REGAL EVENTS 