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Kelantan sultan to become Malaysia's next head of state

Xinhua, October 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan will succeed Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah as Malaysia's next "Yang di-Pertuan Agong," or the head of state, the state news agency Bernama reported on Friday.

The new head of state was selected at a special conference of the rulers, which was attended by the nine ruling sultans, who take turns to become the supreme head, though they still have to go through a secret ballot in which the new ruler must secure the support of at least five other sultans.

Tuanku Abdul Halim, 88, will end his five-year term on Dec. 12. He made history as the only sultan who has been the head of state twice in his lifetime.

Sultan Muhammad V, 47, is currently the youngest among the nine ruling sultans. He was proclaimed the Sultan of Kelantan on Sept. 13, 2010, after illness incapacitated his father.

A report from Channel News Asia said he remained single after a 2010 divorce with his wife.

Friday's meeting also selected Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah as the next deputy head of state. Enditem