Malaysia's twelfth king, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, has stepped down
from his post after a five-year reign to make way for the next
monarch in a send-off steeped in colour and tradition.
The 63-year-old and queen Tuanku Fauziah were given a 21-gun salute
at the nation's parliament after inspecting a guard of honour and
meeting foreign envoys and ministers.
The visibly emotional couple had earlier bade farewell to their
staff at their palace in Kuala Lumpur.
Hundreds of Malaysians lined the streets to wave goodbye to the
king, who was accompanied by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
to the airport for a journey to his northern home state of
Perlis.
The royal couple was greeted at Kuala Lumpur International Airport
with a scene harking back to centuries-old traditions.
Some 500 dancers from Malaysia's states lined the road to the
airport, accompanied by 50 drummers, 50 young women bearing flower
arrangements and a group of performers of the Malay martial art of
silat.
A six-year-old elephant called Amoi headed the procession decked in
red and gold -- the colour of royalty -- in a reminder of the mode
of transport favoured by sultans in bygone days.
The royal couple was feted with cries of "Long live the king!"
before boarding a plane on their journey to Perlis, where thousands
of Malaysians and cultural performers will greet them.
"This is symbolic of the old era. Whenever a sultan or a head of
state travels, he is often preceded by a colourful parade," said
Sara Roslan, a dancer from eastern Sabah state dressed in a red and
black traditional costume.
Dancers also bore golden umbrellas and curved knives called keris,
symbolising protection of the king from weather and danger.
Malaysians also called in sometimes tearful tributes to national
television, which broadcast the king's farewell ceremony.
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, who has a son and daughter, was proclaimed
Malaysia's 12th king in April, 2002.
The country on Wednesday is due to see the proclamation of its 13th
king, the sultan of Terengganu state, Mizan Zainal Abidin, who at
44, will be one of the nation's youngest monarchs ever.
Constitutionally, the position of king is rotated every five years
among the traditional Malay rulers of nine states. The monarch has
largely ceremonial duties and acts on the advice of the
cabinet.
However, he commands the respect of Malaysians, especially the
country's majority ethnic Malays, who maintain a loyalty to rulers
that can be traced back to Malay sultanates centuries ago.
The king or agong, as he is known, is also the majority-Muslim
country's symbolic head of Islam and the nominal chief of the
military.
"The agong was a people's king. He was not a controversial figure
but he carried out his duties well," said one onlooker at the
airport.
