The National Palace said on Sunday that Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan had resigned as the 15th Agong, or Supreme Ruler of the federation. 

Malaysia’s nine Malay state rulers elect an Agong among themselves every five years, usually on a rotational basis. But Sultan Muhammad’s resignation comes just two years after he ascended to the post in December 2016.

His reign ended in controversial fashion after he took a two-month break “following treatment” beginning Nov 2. It was reported during this time that the 49-year-old had married Russian beauty queen Oksana Voevodina, 25, in Moscow.