THE abdication of Sultan Muhammad V as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today comes after weeks of intense rumour and speculation on social media.

While the true reason for his decision to step down just after over 750 days as the King will never be officially known, Sultan Muhammad V had always attracted some form of controversy or another – be it the manner he took over as the Sultan of Kelantan from his father, or his supposed delaying of the appointment of Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the new prime minister after GE14, or for cracking a joke at the expense of lawmakers by telling them to “sila duduk, jangan lari”.

A bachelor whose secret wedding allegedly put an end to his tenure, speculations of Sultan Muhammad V’s taste for high life, including stays at exclusive hotels in Singapore, were always around.

The past seven months had been full of captivating news about the Kelantan royalty.

Issues first surfaced after the sweeping victory by Pakatan Harapan (PH) during the 14th general election, when there were talks that Sultan Muhammad V had delayed the swearing in of Dr Mahathir.

Malaysians were left wondering as they watch the scene unfold live on television screens as Dr Mahathir and his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Ali, as well as other PH leaders, were left waiting for hours for the King for the ceremony.

Istana Negara then issued a statement the next day denying that the swearing in was delayed, stating that the Agong had carried out his duties and functions in accordance with the federal constitution.

He, however, oversaw the peaceful takeover of the government by PH from Barisan Nasional.

He is also facilitated the speedy pardon process for Anwar Ibrahim.

Known for his closeness to former prime minister Najib Razak, Sultan Muhammad V caused laughter in the first day of the new Parliament sitting by asking lawmakers to “sila duduk, jangan lari”.

This was in reference to BN lawmakers who had left the House the day before in objection to the appointment of Dewan Rakyat speaker.

Less than a month later, the issue of appointing a new attorney-general came to an impasse as PH’s unanimous choice, Tommy Thomas, did not fit the King’s criteria of being a Malay or a Muslim.

Comptroller of the Royal Household Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz later revealed that the case was never a matter of race, but the Agong was concerned as to whether Thomas’s appointment would have any effect on Malay, Muslim and bumiputera rights.

The situation only resolved after Sultan Muhammad V was convinced by Anwar during a late night meeting in Kota Baru that Thomas’ appointment was in accordance with the federal constitution. The King’s statement approving the appointment came close to midnight.

Soon, Sultan Muhammad V was subject to more cold stares when veteran journalist and Dr Mahathir’s close aide A. Kadir Jasin wrote in his blog that RM256.9 million was spent for the upkeep and personal expenditure of Sultan Muhammad V in the 16 months since he became the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Kadir, however, did not state the source of his information regarding federal spending on the King.

News also leaked of Sultan Muhammad V’s stay in high-end exclusive hotels in Singapore.

The ruler had then decided not to celebrate his birthday and handed over the money allocated for his celebration to the federal government’s Tabung Harapan to aid the government’s financial situation.

Last month, social media and foreign news portals were bustling with pictures showing Sultan Muhammad V marrying a Russian former beauty pageant, Oksana Voevodina. However, Istana Negara had neither confirmed nor denied the marriage.

The nuptials were supposedly held in such secrecy that even Dr Mahathir said he has no official confirmation of the wedding.

More damagingly, saucy video clips and photos of his new wife started emerging soon after the wedding.

This happened when he was on a two-month leave, supposedly for medical purposes.

Sultan Muhammad V’s accession to the Kelantan throne was also not without controversy.

Formerly known as Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, he took over his father Sultan Ismail Petra as the sultan of Kelantan after dismissing his younger brother from the Succession Council.

He was proclaimed the 29th sultan of Kelantan and took the regal name Muhammad V after that.

Sultan Ismail disagreed with the council’s decision to declare his son as the Sultan of Kelantan, and in 2010 his lawyers filed a petition to the Federal Court to declare the appointment as unconstitutional. The matter was dropped subsequently.

Sultan Muhammad V was made the the 15th King in 2016 with his official installation ceremony held on April 24, 2017. He was 47-years-old when he took over from Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah.

This is the first time a sitting Agong had abdicated from the throne before the end of his five-year reign.

He is known for dressing in a simple jubah (robe), kopiah and sandals. – January 6, 2019.