KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - A new king will be elected in two weeks following the demise of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Nov 21, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad announced today.

The "Conference of Rulers" of all states would meet Dec 12 to elect the country's 12th king, Mahathir was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

The Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, is due to become the new monarch under Malaysia's constitution, but the final decision on the new monarch rests with the Conference of Rulers, the premier added.

Rotation system

Under the constitution of Malaysia, which gained independence from Britain in 1957, the position of king - known in Malay as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (He Who is Made Lord) - is rotated among the heads of the royal families of nine states every five years.

The deputy king, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, is currently acting as Agong until a new king is elected.

Sultan Salahuddin died in hospital on Nov 21 at the age of 75, after being hospitalised since undergoing heart surgery in Singapore almost two months ago.

The king is seen as a symbol of national unity and harmony for the 23 million population, which is made up of 65 percent Malays and other indigenous groups, 26 percent ethnic Chinese and 7.7 percent Indians.

The king is head of state, as well as the nominal head of the military and all three branches of government. He signs bills and appoints ministers, judges and ambassadors.

Real power, however, is wielded by Mahathir, who has been prime minister for the past 20 years.