New king for Malaysia

Malaysia's new king comes from the country's smallest state

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysia has named the sultan of its smallest state as the country's new king.

Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail will replace the late monarch Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz, who died last month.

He will be Malaysia's 12th king, or Yang di-Pertuan Agong, since the country gained independence from Britain in 1957.

Malaysia's nine hereditary Malay rulers chose Syed Sirajuddin during a secret ballot at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur.

In this Southeast Asian nation, nine state sultans take turns to take the throne for five years. Each sultan is allowed to be king only once.

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The king's role is largely ceremonial in Malaysia, and the power to govern resides with the federal Parliament and the prime minister.

Supreme upholder

But for ethnic Malay Muslims, who make up about 60 percent of Malaysia's 23 million people, the king is the supreme upholder of Malay tradition and the symbolic head of Islam -- a legacy that dates back to the early 15th century.

Colorful ceremonies marking the king's inauguration are expected in coming weeks.

The new deputy king is Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu state. Both king and his deputy will begin their duties on Thursday.

The country turned out to mourn for the former king, who died last month

The new monarch, 58, attended Britain's army officer training school of Sandhurst and served in the military before succeeding his late father last year as ruler of Perlis, the nation's smallest state.

It is a mostly rural state dotted with rice paddy fields in the north of Peninsula Malaysia, bordering Thailand.

Syed Sirajuddin has two children with his wife Fauziah Abdul Rashid and has a keen interest in golf, soccer, rugby and photography.