The silver-haired, bespectacled Al-Sultan Abdullah became king after the surprise abdication of the previous king.
The ruler of the state of Pahang in the east cost of Malaysia, King Al-Sultan Abdullah won popularity for his down-to-earth image at the start of his reign after he was seen queuing up at Kentucky Fried Chicken and helping accident victims on a highway.
Al-Sultan Abdullah is an avid sportsman, having represented his state in football matches in his younger days. He has served as a member of the FIFA Executive Committee and as president of the Asian Hockey Federation.
IS IT ALWAYS THE KING’S CHOICE?
No. Elections normally determine who will be prime minister in Malaysia under a parliamentary system.
But the constitution does give him the power to appoint a prime minister that he believes can command a majority among the lawmakers.
Malaysia’s kings have rarely used that power, but political instability in the last two years has prompted the monarch to pick a leader.
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