Sultan Muhammad V, the monarch of Kelantan state and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, resigned on Jan. 6.

In a statement made by the comptroller of the royal household Wan Ahmad Dahlan Ab Aziz, he confirmed that the King resigned from his post in line with Article 32(3) of the Federal Constitution.

Said Wan Ahmad, according to the New Straits Time Online, "His Majesty has informed this matter officially to the Malay Rulers through a letter issued to the secretary of the Conference of Rulers."

Sultan Muhammad V offered his gratitude to the other Malaysian monarchs who chose him as the 15th Agong of Malaysia in Dec. 2016.

He was officially installed as the Head of State in April 2017 to serve a five-year-term.

The King's speech

The King said he had tried to serve as an anchor of stability in his time as Head of State, and a unifying symbol.

He also expressed his "highest appreciation" to the Federal government and its Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, for their "cooperation".

Wan Ahmad added that Sultan Muhammad V decreed that Malaysians should remain united, practise compromise, and work with each other for peace and harmony.

He will return to his home state of Kelantan to help "uplift" the people there.

The King was recently in the news after pictures leaked on social media that apparently showed him getting married to a Russian beauty queen over 20 years his junior.

However, this marriage has yet to be officially confirmed by the palace or the Malaysian government.

Rumours no longer

On Jan. 4, Mahathir said he had not received any official notice that the King intended to resign.

According to the Malay Mail Online, he said, "Like you, I have heard rumours. I have not received any letter or any official indication about anything."

The Malay rulers apparently convened a rare unofficial meeting on Jan. 2 to discuss an undisclosed matter.

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Top image adapted from pics by Ribena Malaysia and Maria Sudhaga J K via Wikimedia Commons.