DIGNITARIES ARRIVING, TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN ARRIVING, KING AND QUEEN ARRIVING, SYMBOLS OF OFFICES GIVEN TO KING, KING TAKING SWORD OF OFFICE, KING SPEAKING.




Initials JGS/VS/JH/PC



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Background: THE KING OF MALAYSIA, THE ONLY MONARCH IN THE WORLD TO BE ELECTED FOR A FIXED TERM, WAS INSTALLED FOR A FIVE YEAR TERM IN KUALA LUMPUR YESTERDAY (MONDAY).

THE COLOURFUL TWO HOUR CEREMONY CAME TO ITS CLIMAX WHEN THE 59 YEAR OLD YANG DI-PERTUAN AGONG HELD AN INTRICATELY CARVED STATE DAGGER TO HIS HEAD AS AN ANCIENT SYMBOL OF POWER AND AUTHORITY. TWENTY PLUMED LANCERS AND SOLDIERS CARRYING ROYAL YELLOW SILK UMBRELLAS ATTENDED THE KING AND HIS 37 YEAR-OLD QUEEN, THE RAJA PERMAISURI AGONG, AS TELEVISION CAMERAS CARRIED THE CENTURIES OLD CEREMONY TO THE NATION LIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IN A BRIEF MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE, THE NEW KING PROMISED TO CARRY OUT HIS DUTIES WITH JUSTICE AND FAIR PLAY. HE WAS ELECTED BY HIS FELLOW SULTANS IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR. CELEBRATIONS LASTING TWO DAYS BEGAN AFTER THE CEREMONY WITH A STATE BANQUET AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE AND A PUBLIC FIREWORKS DISPLAY.