![This pictures taken on January 11, 2019 shows Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah (C) walking after a meeting in Kuala Lumpur. A Malaysian state on January 12 picked a new Islamic ruler, palace officials said, putting him in pole position to become the next king following the historic abdication of Sultan Muhammad V. Sultan Ahmad Shah, 88-years-old, of the central state of Pahang stepped down to allow his 59-year-old son Tengku Abdullah Shah to take over as the new sultan.[Photo:VCG]](http://img2.zhytuku.meldingcloud.com/images/zhycms_chinaplus/20190124/637a12e2-5709-4579-aa02-f87d6ddb72ed.jpg?x-oss-process=image/resize,w_650)
Malaysia’s Conference of Rulers named Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah as the country’s 16th King on Thursday, who serves as the constitutional head of state, state news agency Bernama reported.
Abdullah will be officially installed as King or Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan. 31, replacing his predecessor Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan state who resigned on Jan. 6.
