Kelantan' Sultan celebrates official 50th birthday amid family mourning for his late father

Today, November 11, is the official birthday of the Sultan of Kelantan. The conservative rural state in north-western Malaysia holds this celebrations on honorific dates, which don't depend on the Sultan's actual birthday. However, today would have been the 70th birthday of the late former Sultan Ismail Petra, who died in September.

Sultan Muhammad V celebrating his 50th birthday today

His son, Sultan Muhammad V (who succeeded him nine years ago) has participated in official celebrations of his this year's Jubilee (he turned 50 last October 6). Though today & tomorrow (Nov. 12) are officially designated as public holidays, some of festivities have been cancelled this year in respect to the recent death of Sultan's father. They included a royal banquet & traditional performances. It was stated that this year's celebrations will be held "on a moderate scale", as 'many people', including the royal family were continuing to mourn Sultan Ismail Petra's recent death a long illness.

The late Sultan Ismail Petra died on September 28, this year

Though state mourning has concluded last week after 40 days, the royal family & palace stuff of Kelantan will continue to mourn for the deceased until the 100th day of his passing. Formal celebrations have already taken place this morning, including religious activities & an investiture ceremony at the palace. The Sultanate's capital has been decorated with lights & other items to mark the occasion, with state government extending RM150,000 for the Ruler's official birthday events.

The Sultan with his brother (left) & sister-in-law ('hidden' behind him, right)

Today's celebration began at 8am (local time) with the Sultan inspecting troops, attended by Muhammad V, his brother Crown Prince Muhammad Faiz Petra & sister-in-law (Crown Princess) Cik Puan Sofie Louise Johansson. Full military honours were paid.

At the Palace' throne room's investiture ceremony

The official audience at Istana Balai Besar followed after 9am. The Sultan awarded birthday distinctions to 623 VIPs in attendance of royal family members. At its conclusion he thanked in particular the hospital staff & state officials for the efforts during his father's illness (respiratory condition & cardiac arrythmia), the quick arrangement of a honorary funeral on the day of his death. The Sultan became emotional & shade tears speaking about Sultan Ismail's final days.

Muhammad V & Faiz before their father's grave last month

Finally Muhammad V remarked positiveness on the state governmen's initiative to invest into '5 key projects', regarding cleanlines & improving local roads & transport departments, ahead plane for Kelantan to attract some 5,5 million tourists during next year (2020).

Arch of Sultan Ismail Petra, a prominent attraction in (capital) Kota Bahru, Kelantan

Official portrait of the 29th Sultan of Kelanta

Sultan Muhammad V (born Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra) was educated in Malaysia & England; he finished three universities in Germany & UK (including Oxford). Proclaimed as Tengku Mahkota (Crown Prince) on his 18th birthday, Faris succeeded his father on September 2010 after the latter was deemed incapacitated to rule due to a serious stroke the previous year. Muhammad V was elected Yang di-Pertuan Agong (an office equivalent to a Sovereign King) of Malaysia in 2016 for a customary 'five year "term" '.

Muhammad V & Rihanna (Oksana) on a viral pic.

He became the first in this office to cut his term short steping down (last January), months after his marriage to former Russian model Oksana Voevodina/Gorbatenko became known. Muhammad divorsed her this Summer, shortly after she gave birth to a son (Tengku Ismail Leon Petra), claiming that he is from the Sultan, who however denies it, refusing to have any contact with them.