BANGKOK - The Sultan of Kelantan, Muhammad V, was crowned Tuesday Malaysia's fifteenth king since the country's independence from the United Kingdom in 1957.

According to the Malaysian constitution, the King (elected every five years from among the nine sultans on rotatory basis), who will reign till 2021, is also the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian armed forces and the official representative of the country.

Muhammad V, 47, who succeeded the Sultan of Kedah, Abdul Halim Muadzan, was crowned in a ceremony - broadcast on television - attended by the other eight sultans, members of the federal government, 13 states and three Malaysian territories.

The new king completed his education in Diplomatic and Islamic studies in 1991 at Oxford, after which he worked for many European companies.

Muhammad V was named the Sultan of Kelantan after his father stepped down due to ill health and after a tedious succession process as one of his younger brothers challenged it in court.

Thousands traveled the 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) between the Malaysian national palace and the capital's airport to welcome the new monarch, who was received by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Malaysia is divided into 13 states, out of which nine are ruled by monarchs, who form the council called the Conference of Rulers.

The king is revered as the patriarch of the Malaya ethnic group by all Malaysian Muslims, who represent 60 percent of the country's population.