Kelantan residents stunned by Sultan Muhammad V's shock resignation as Malaysia King

TOP: Sultan Muhammad V attending prayers at Masjid Al Sultan Ismail Petra in Kelantan. He is often seen in a jubah and mingles easily with the people. ABOVE: The Sultan Muhammad II Mosque is a few metres away from Istana Telipot and is frequented by
ABOVE: Sultan Muhammad V attending prayers at Masjid Al Sultan Ismail Petra in Kelantan. He is often seen in a jubah and mingles easily with the people. PHOTO: BERNAMA, HAZLIN HASSAN
TOP: Sultan Muhammad V attending prayers at Masjid Al Sultan Ismail Petra in Kelantan. He is often seen in a jubah and mingles easily with the people. ABOVE: The Sultan Muhammad II Mosque is a few metres away from Istana Telipot and is frequented by
ABOVE: The Sultan Muhammad II Mosque is a few metres away from Istana Telipot and is frequented by the ruler. PHOTO: BERNAMA, HAZLIN HASSAN
TOP: Sultan Muhammad V attending prayers at Masjid Al Sultan Ismail Petra in Kelantan. He is often seen in a jubah and mingles easily with the people. ABOVE: The Sultan Muhammad II Mosque is a few metres away from Istana Telipot and is frequented by
MOHD HAKIM ABDULLAH, a GrabCar driver. PHOTOS: BERNAMA, HAZLIN HASSAN
TOP: Sultan Muhammad V attending prayers at Masjid Al Sultan Ismail Petra in Kelantan. He is often seen in a jubah and mingles easily with the people. ABOVE: The Sultan Muhammad II Mosque is a few metres away from Istana Telipot and is frequented by
NORALAM MAJID, a social activist. PHOTOS: BERNAMA, HAZLIN HASSAN
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At a glance, the green-domed yellow mosque in the capital of the Malay-majority state of Kelantan looks like any modest and unassuming mosque in Malaysia.

But the Sultan Muhammad II Mosque, also known as Telipot Mosque, is connected to one of the six palaces of its state ruler, Sultan Muhammad V, who was the Malaysian King for two years until Jan 6, in more than one way. As it is just a few metres away from Istana Telipot and is frequented by the Sultan, he had requested for speakers to be installed in the palace so he could hear the mosque's call to prayer and religious sermons.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on January 13, 2019, with the headline Kelantan residents stunned by Sultan Muhammad V's shock resignation as Malaysia King. Subscribe