Sultan Muhammad V
KUALA LUMPUR: Sultan Muhammad V, as the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, was an unpretentious ruler and one who wasn’t concerned about protocol during public appearances.
The two-year tenure of the Sultan of Kelantan as the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, from Dec 13, 2016, left an indelible impression as a ruler of the people who was prudent and humble and had a good sense of humour.
Sultan Muhammad V stepped down as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 6.
Some of his spontaneous words and acts while carrying out official duties, such as the time he told lawmakers in Parliament to ‘please be seated, and don’t run’, became popular among the people.
Born on Oct 6, 1969, at Istana Batu, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V was brought up based on the teachings of Islam and a vast command of world knowledge.
As a ruler who did not think much of protocol, he often wore the jubah or Muslim robe and took a great interest in religious affairs and the welfare of the people.
Some of the programmes he initiated include ‘Qiam With Me’ and the Royal Walkathon which have been held in Kelantan since 2011.
During the Aidiladha celebration, Sultan Muhammad V himself participated in the animal sacrifice offering programme – something rarely done by a ruler.
His caring nature came to the fore in 2014, at the height of the floods in Kelantan, when he went to the affected locations and visited his subjects at the relief centres.
In his meetings with the people and when speaking in public, he often refers to himself as ‘kita’ (as opposed to the pronoun ‘beta’ normally used by royals), and was softspoken.
His concern for the people knew no bounds. The 23 lives lost in the fire at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah Tahfiz Centre in the capital in September 2017 touched his heart and he visited the location of the incident himself, besides meeting with the management of the centre to express sympathy and enquire about their situation.
Having sworn in as the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in December 2016 and installed on April 24, 2017, Sultan Muhammad V became the head of state during the Barisan Nasional administration and witnessed the transition to a new government formed by Pakatan Harapan (PH) following the coalition’s victory in the 14th General Election (GE14) on May 9, 2018.
Sultan Muhammad V allowed the democratic system in Malaysia to flourish by ensuring that the first transition of government in the history of Malaysia was carried out peacefully and orderly.
He also awarded a full pardon to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was then serving a prison sentence. The ruler’s people-centric leadership qualities were also apparent when he ordered for his allowance and emoluments to be reduced by 10 per cent during his reign as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Sultan Muhammad V succeeded in fulfilling his responsibilities as the head of state, serving as the pillar of stability, the source of justice, and the umbrella of solidarity and unity. — Bernama