His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today graced the Trooping of the Colours ceremony at Dataran Pahlawan Negara.
Upon His Majesty’s arrival at 8.45am, the national anthem, Negaraku, was played, followed by a 21-gun salute.
Sultan Ibrahim then inspected a parade comprising 25 officers and 510 personnel from the three branches of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF). The contingent was led by the commanding officer of the Fifth Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Azlan Shah Baharom.
The ceremony, which commenced at 7.50am, proceeded amid light rain and temperatures of approximately 26 degrees Celsius.
A combined performance by the MAF Central Band, conducted by Lieutenant Colonel Muhamad Nor Azizan Yahya, also featured patriotic musical renditions.
Following the royal inspection of the guard of honour, the combined MAF Central Band marched onto the parade ground, marking the start of the ceremonial trooping of the five Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Colours with full military honours.
The five Colours paraded during the ceremony represented the Royal Malay Regiment, Royal Ranger Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Malaysian Navy and Royal Malaysian Air Force.
The Colours are a national honour bestowed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong upon regiments and corps of the Army, Navy and Air Force in recognition of their service and loyalty to the nation.
The ceremony concluded with members of the parade contingent proclaiming “Daulat Tuanku” three times, followed by a prayer led by Army Headquarters Religious Director-General Brigadier General Mohd Jihadi Ahmad.
His Majesty departed the event at 9.40am.
Also in attendance were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Chief of Defence Force General Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman.
The Trooping of the Colours ceremony is held three times during the five-year reign of each Malay Ruler appointed as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong — during the first, third and final years of the reign.
The ceremony serves as a symbolic reaffirmation of the armed forces’ oath and pledge of unwavering loyalty to the King and the nation.
