Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak says he did not attend the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s installation ceremony due to the required change of outfit following last-minute seat adjustments.
“I received a call at 6.30am (yesterday) that my seat has been changed,” he posted on his Facebook account today.
“I was supposed to be allocated seat number 10, reserved for former premiers under the ceremony’s protocol, but was changed to the back row meant for Orang Besar Pahang.
“The attire for Orang Besar Pahang and a former prime minister is not the same. Every position has its protocols. At that time, it was already too late for me to get my other attire from Pekan.”
Najib Razak, who is the Pekan MP, has a hereditary title from Pahang, the title Orang Kaya Indera Shahbandar, and is one of the Orang Besar Berempat.
He inherited the Orang Kaya Indera Shahbandar title from his late father. The title, which dates back about three centuries, was accorded to him by the Pahang palace.
Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor were initially supposed to sit in the same row as Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her husband, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
Najib’s former special officer Isham Jalil alleged in a news report today that Dr Mahathir forced the change by threatening to boycott the event if Najib was seated near him.
According to Utusan Malaysia, Isham claimed Dr Mahathir was jealous of Najib’s popularity and wanted to prevent the ex-PM from attending.
Separately, the Prime Minister’s Office denied any involvement in the change, saying the matter was entirely decided by Istana Negara’s protocol division.
Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah was officially installed as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in a majestic ceremony steeped in royal custom and tradition at Istana Negara on Tuesday (July 30).
The installation ceremony, attended by eminent guests, took place at the Balairong Seri with Sultan Abdullah taking his Oath of Installation, marking the formal commencement of his tenure as the Supreme Head of the Federation.