Historic day: Sultan Abdullah (centre) having a group photo taken before the election of the new King was held at the Special 263rd Meeting of the Conference of Rulers at Istana Negara. With His Majesty are (from left) Perak’s Sultan Nazrin Shah, Negri Sembilan’s Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, Terengganu’s Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar and Kedah’s Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: On a blistering afternoon in the last week of February 2020, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah spoke a few words.
But those words calmed a nation in turmoil.
The country had just lost its prime minister after the then Pakatan Harapan administration collapsed a few days before, and all eyes were on Istana Negara to find out who the new PM would be.
Without any notice, the gates of the palace suddenly parted, and Sultan Abdullah appeared in shirt sleeves and a tie with bags of fast food that he passed around to the army of hungry reporters who had camped there for days.
In unscripted remarks not just to the media but to Malaysians who were tuning in live, Sultan Abdullah asked the nation to be patient and give him the space to deliberate.
“Let me do my duty, and I hope we will have the best solution,” His Majesty said to the cheers of Daulat Tuanku! (Long Live the King!) from the video and photo crews.
This was just one episode, said political observers, that stamped Sultan Abdullah’s reputation as a down-to-earth monarch whose steady hand navigated the country through unprecedented times.
“His Majesty’s reign was one filled with challenges, and he had to make tough decisions, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic coupled with the political crisis in the country and seeing the appointment of four prime ministers,” said political scientist Dr Jeniri Amir.
The National Professors Council (MPN) senior fellow said His Majesty had the wisdom and fortitude to steer the country through uncharted waters.
Sultan Abdullah was elected Yang di-Pertuan Agong in January 2019 at the age of 60.
During his reign, Sultan Abdullah oversaw four prime ministers – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who resigned in February 2020; Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who replaced Dr Mahathir but was forced out in August 2021; and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who replaced Muhyiddin the same year but stepped down in November 2022 to call for the 15th General Election (GE15).
“After Muhyiddin stepped down and Ismail Sabri became prime minister, the King urged all the political party leaders to work together for the sake of the nation,” said political scientist Dr Mazlan Ali.
The Opposition at the time, led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, appeared to support His Majesty’s call by signing a confidence and supply agreement (CSA) with Ismail Sabri’s administration, said Mazlan, of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
The CSA reduced the amount of political bickering in Parliament and allowed the government to pass Budget 2023 smoothly, said Mazlan.
Sultan Abdullah’s fourth prime minister came in after GE15, after His Majesty persuaded most of the rival political parties to agree to put aside their differences and form a unity government.
“After the 15th General Election, Sultan Abdullah again called upon leaders to work together as part of the unity government. So, you can see how he always puts the interests of the nation and the rakyat as the main priority,” Mazlan said.
As a result, Anwar gained the confidence of 148 MPs – nearly one-third of whom had been his GE15 rivals – to be appointed prime minister.
Besides his deft and steady ability to navigate Malaysia’s polarised political landscape, Sultan Abdullah and the Queen, Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, will be remembered for their humility and friendliness in public.
MPN’s Jeneri said they were the first Royal Couple to embark on the Kembara Kenali Borneo expedition, which took them on a one-week tour to meet people in the interiors of Sabah and Sarawak.
“The King and Queen’s humble approach by going to people’s houses and even eating food sold by the roadside really resonated with the rakyat,” said Jeneri.
The Royal Couple played traditional games and learnt exotic handicrafts from villagers throughout the region, some of whom waited in the rain to wave at their convoy.
“The Kembara Kenali Borneo expedition clearly showed how well liked the King and Queen are by the rakyat,” Mazlan said, adding that the couple were known to be close to people from all walks of life by directly interacting with everyone.
For example, the King was known for stopping to aid motorists who had been in accidents, often getting traffic police in his motorcade to bring them to the hospital.
“In the years to come, as Malaysia rebuilds (from the pandemic), the people will remember how Sultan Abdullah was instrumental in that process,” he added.
