The king, wearing the “Muskat”, the official attire of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah, looking elegant in a golden Kurung Johor outfit, attracted the attention of the guests as they walked past them to sit on the throne, Bernama reported.

The “Raja Berangkat” tune played by the Nobat (Royal Orchestra) of Perak reverberated in the hall as the royal couple entered a ceremony full of traditions of the Malaysian monarchy.

The Grand Chamberlain Azuan Effendy Zairakithnaini then approached to seek the consent of Sultan Ibrahim to begin the ceremony.

Nearly 700 guests, including the Malay rulers, governors, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and foreign dignitaries and leaders attended the ceremony, which was streamed live on national television.

Sultan Ibrahim took the oath of office as the 17th king of Malaysia on Jan 31. He is continuing the second round of the Malay monarchs’ rotation system practised since the country’s independence in 1957, where a ruler from one of the states will take the throne for a five-year period.

Sultan Ibrahim replaced Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang, whose reign as the 16th king ended on Jan 30.